Social Determinants of Health and Happiness of Older Adults in Ghana: Secondary Analysis of Ghana SAGE Wave 2 Longitudinal Data

Background: Social determinants of health [SDOH] and happiness have received meaningful consideration as foundational concepts in the field of public health. However, the relationship between the SDOH and happiness of older adults have not received the requisite recognition in Ghana. This study examined the relationship between the SDOH and happiness of older adults in Ghana. Methods The study used data from the 2014/2015 Ghana Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 2. Data was analysed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique to investigate the direct, indirect and covariances of the SDOH and happiness of older adults. Results The results showed positive relationship between the SDOH and happiness among older adults. The economic stability ( β  = 0.07), neighbourhood and built environment ( β  = 0.02, P  < 0.001), access to quality education ( β  = 0.56, P  < 0.01), access to healthy food ( β  = 0.48, P  < 0.001) social and community context ( β  = 0.41, P  < 0.05), and access to quality healthcare ( β  = 0.80, P  < 0.001) had direct relationship with happiness of the older adults in Ghana. Conclusion This study shows that the conditions in which older adults were born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age (SDOH) positively impact their happiness in later life. Neighbourhood and physical environment influence the effect of quality education on happiness of older adults. Social policies and interventions aiming at happiness of older adults should consider the social determinants of health and the mediating effects of food on happiness through quality education, and quality of healthcare system.