Abstract

The association between quality of life (QoL) and successful aging (SA) is a key subject for societies with rising aging rates. However, there are few studies examining the differences between the development of the processes and/or how they are associated in a context of ethnic diversity. The aim of this research was to examine a model based on the domains of QoL (sensory abilities; autonomy; past, present and future activities; social participation; death and dying; and intimacy) and SA (functional performance mechanisms; intrapsychic factors; spirituality; gerotranscendence and life purpose/satisfaction) in a multi-ethnic sample of older Chilean adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 800 older people, 71% of whom were self-declared indigenous (35% Aymara and 65% Mapuche). The Successful Aging Inventory (SAI) and WHOQOL-OLD were applied. A multigroup analysis (non-indigenous, Aymara, Mapuche) was then conducted using structural models. Findings: It was not possible to establish the existence of invariance in the specification of the model among the three ethnic groups. The main difference found was between the two groups of indigenous older adults, on one hand, and the non-indigenous group, on the other. The results did show the existence of non-variance in the definition of the model between Aymara and Mapuche, but it was not possible to develop a common model that would include the covariance between SA and QoL. Discussion: This study analyses differences in SA and QoL for groups living in their indigenous context and territory, where they have become a socially disadvantaged minority. The results showed the utility of using measurement scales to analyse ethnic differences in the definition of SA and QoL. Finally, there was a discussion of the importance of designing culture-based psychosocial intervention in the field of social gerontology.