Direct and Indirect Impacts of Education on Subjective Well-being of Older Persons in Vietnam : Gender Differences

Abstract

Vietnam, like many developing countries, is undergoing a rapid pace of population ageing but within a resource limited context. Therefore, understanding the factors that are important to later life well-being has become a key policy issue. Using data from the 2011 Vietnam National Aging Survey, this thesis aims to investigate gender differences in the direct and indirect impacts of education on subjective well-being of older Vietnamese based on four domains: happiness, life satisfaction, loneliness, and depression (N=2,789, including 1,683 females and 1,106 males). The results from path analysis show that those with higher level of education are happier and more satisfied with their life, and they are also less lonely and less depressed. Education has both direct and indirect effects on subjective well-being of older males and females. In most cases the direct effects are stronger in the case of males, possibly due to gender roles in Vietnam where males are expected to be breadwinners. The indirect effects are found through several channels, including economic situation, living arrangement, number of children, marital status, working status, and religion. This thesis plays a very important role to promote education by encouraging individuals to continue their study to higher level of education, with the aim to avoid loneliness, depression and to get more happiness and life satisfaction in later life. Therefore, pursuing education is a long-term sustainable investment not only for the economic benefits of the working age, but also for subjective well-being benefits in old age. Moreover, the thesis supports the promotion of gender equality, in order to enable women to fully benefit from their investment in education.