Poczucie osamotnienia a zadowolenie z życia osób w wieku 50 lat i więcej w Polsce w świetle danych badania GGS-PL

The main aim of the paper was the analysis of determinants of life satisfaction of people aged 50 years and more in Poland. The data used in the analysis came from the second wave of the Polish Generations and Gender Survey (GGS-PL) that had been carried out in 2014 and 2015. The linear regression models with the dependent variable describing life satisfaction were estimated. Explanatory variables, incorporated into the model, included basic socio-demographic variables as well as a variable describing loneliness. The obtained results are in line with those described in the literature. As expected, better educated individuals, with higher income are more satisfied with life. Similarly, married persons had higher life satisfaction than those living without a spouse. Moreover, persons in employment were more satisfied with life than those economically inactive, while unemployment diminishes life satisfaction of people aged 50+ in Poland, especially for men. The same was found for those having children: they were more satisfied with life than the childless. The most important finding is that the lonely individuals are less satisfied with their lives. Interestingly, the positive relationship between satisfaction with life and having children among people aged 50+ may be explained by loneliness. It means that childlessness is strongly related to loneliness and loneliness mediates the effect of childlessness on satisfaction with life.