What happiness and depression reveal about growing old in Nigeria — Experts

Growing old in Nigeria has long been associated with vulnerability, declining health, financial insecurity, and diminishing family support. Nevertheless, the majority of older Nigerians report being happy, and their happiness is strongly linked to mental health, education, and continued engagement in life, according to a recent study.

A new study indicates that older Nigerians report feeling happy, with their well-being profoundly influenced by mental health, social structures, and economic realities, reflecting truly how people age in Nigeria today.

The study, which involved 378 adults aged 60 years and older, attending a geriatric care facility, found that more than eight out of 10 older persons were happy; challenging the notion that old age in Nigeria is characterized by misery and decline.

Older patients with impaired cognition were not excluded. Individuals who were acutely ill or otherwise unable to communicate were excluded.

In the Malawi Medical Journal, Dr Lawrence Adebusoye, Dr Eniola Cadmus, Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola, and Dr Oladipo Afolayan reported that older adults with formal education, fewer children, and continued engagement in occupational activities were significantly more likely to report being happy. 

According to them, the most significant factor influencing happiness in older adults was mental health, particularly the absence of depression.

Employment and marriage also played significant roles in their happiness. However, the proportion of happy respondents declined slightly with age.

The study reported that depression, although often overlooked or dismissed as a normal part of ageing, is the strongest predictor of unhappiness. Older adults without depression were almost 13 times more likely to be happy than those experiencing depressive symptoms.

Untreated depression can diminish resilience, exacerbate physical illnesses, impair cognitive function, and increase dependency. Conversely, happiness can serve as a protective factor against stress, cognitive decline, and loss of purpose.

They reported that older adults who remained engaged in occupational activities were happier, suggesting that continued work may provide not only income but also identity, routine, and social interaction. Additionally, older individuals with formal education were significantly happier, as education enhances their problem-solving skills, health literacy, and employability.

According to them, the finding reinforces the growing global evidence that happiness in old age is more closely linked to mental health than to physical health and underscores the urgent need to redefine elderly care as support for emotional and psychological well-being.

They therefore urged routine screening for depression and emotional distress in older adults, the implementation of community-based mental health and social support programmes, policies that encourage lifelong learning and safe economic participation in old age, and greater recognition of companionship and social connection as essential pillars of elderly well-being.

According to them, happiness should not be regarded as a luxury or an abstract concept but as a fundamental indicator of healthy ageing.

“A holistic approach to healthcare must include mental health. Targeted interventions addressing depression can significantly improve happiness and overall well-being among older persons,” the study concluded.

Nigeria’s population of older persons is growing rapidly, driven by increased life expectancy and demographic changes. However, geriatric care and mental health services remain underdeveloped.