Direct and Indirect Effects of Nutritional Status on Subjective Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults—the Yilan Study, Taiwan

This study aimed to investigate the direct effects of nutritional status and indirect effects of physiological factors on the relationship between nutritional status and subjective well-being (SWB) in older adults. A cross-sectional study involved 1119 community-dwelling residents aged ≥65. SWB was assessed using single items on self-rated health and happiness, while nutritional status was evaluated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment. In multiple linear regression models, nutritional status, handgrip strength, and physical activity significantly correlated with self-rated health, while nutritional status significantly correlated with self-rated happiness. In multiple mediation models, nutritional status exerted positive direct effects on both self-rated health and happiness. Meanwhile, handgrip strength also conferred positive indirect effects from nutritional status to both domains of the SWB. Physical activity positively intervened the relationship between nutritional status and self-rated health. These findings illustrate that nutritional status had a direct effect on SWB and was indirectly intervened by physiological factors.