A systematic review of the associations, mediators and moderators of life satisfaction, positive affect and happiness in near-centenarians and centenarians.

The large discrepancy of results in the literature may be explained by methodological differences between studies. Centenarian research needs a clearer definition of life satisfaction, positive affect and happiness as their operationalisation is inconsistent. An international consortium of centenarian studies could facilitate cross-cultural comparisons on subjective well-being. Future research should be directed towards interventions that promote subjective well-being in the oldest-old.