Prosociality as a Form of Productive Aging: Predictors and Their Relationship With Subjective Well-Being

The current study emphasizes the importance of active and productive aging to promote health and autonomy among older adults, highlighting effects on social and familial levels. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 198 individuals older than 65 living in Palafrugell, Spain with the objective of determining which factors influence informal helping behavior among older adults and the relationship between these factors and well-being and variables such as perception of health and economic status. Satisfaction with free time and participation in various activities, as well as education level in individuals younger than 80, were identified as predictors of helping behavior. A statistically significant and positive relationship was observed between helping others and satisfaction with free time and feeling happy. This study contributes to understanding prosocial behavior among older adults by examining the relationship between prosocial behavior and subjective well-being and contribution to productive aging. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(6):306-315.].