Abstract

The present study seeks to determine which demographic and behavioral factors affect satisfaction with food-related life in older Chilean adults. A questionnaire was applied to 785 older adults belonging to the adult centers of 30 communes in the Maule region, Chile. The questionnaires Satisfaction with Food-related Life, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale and independence in Activities of the Daily Life were applied. Sociodemographic characterization questions were included, in addition to questions about the consumption of eleven groups of foods and drinks at home, besides the expenses in restaurants. A descriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed, using statistical adjustment measures and collinearity diagnosis of the variables. In conclusion, the main factors positively related to a high satisfaction related to food are the female gender, being married or in a couple, greater perception of satisfaction with life and consumption of fish and wine. Good levels of commensality were determined in the three meals studied; consequently, reuniting the family and sharing daily can contribute positively to well-being. However, satisfaction with food was higher in rural areas than in urban areas and the group with the highest age (> 80 years) reported lower satisfaction with food when it was analyzed in a bivariable manner.