Page 106 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Social support and quality of life in Indian elderly

lifespan and a corresponding increase in the overall elderly being, including the satisfaction of goals, expectations,
population. The combination of falling fertility and rising and standards based on cultural and value systems. QOL
life expectancy has highlighted the growing percentage is a comprehensive term that includes happiness and
of elderly individuals in the world’s population. In 2001, fulfillment as well as physical and social activity, mental
the elderly population, aged 60 years or above, comprised health, and overall well-being (Coswosck et al., 2022).
7.4% of the total population. This percentage was slightly The significance of QOL among elderly individuals is
lower for males at 7.1%, while for females, it was 7.8%. In gaining prominence, particularly in light of the ongoing
2007, India, the world’s second most populous country at demographic transition toward an aging society. There are
the time, had 92 million people aged 60 years and beyond. signs that concerns related to the QOL in the elderly diverge
By 2050, these numbers are predicted to rise to 330 million from those observed in the broader population (Gupta
in India (United Nations, 2007). As per the 2011 census, et al., 2014). Well-being encompasses both subjective
India’s elderly population (≥60 years) has reached 104 and objective components, with the subjective dimension
million, making up 8.6% of the total population. Among embodied in the concept of QOL. According to the WHO,
the elderly, females outnumber males. Across states, the QOL is defined as the condition of life influenced by a
proportion ranges from approximately 4% in smaller states broad spectrum of factors, including those associated
such as Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to over 7.6% in with health, happiness, education, social and intellectual
Bihar. accomplishments, freedom of action, justice, and freedom
of expression (WHOQOL Group, 1993). Urbanization,
The term “aging” describes the inevitable, natural, and modernity, globalization, individualism, and other social
gradual biological changes that take place throughout an changes have caused significant disruption in family
individual’s lifespan. Aging can also be defined as a mental structures and societal norms and values, which negatively
condition that does not necessarily correspond with our impacts the elderly in modern cultures (Varma et al.,
actual age (Thadathil et al., 2015). As people age, they 2010). In addition, aging causes a variety of physiological
lose certain roles and responsibilities and become more and psychological issues that negatively impact a person’s
dependent on others. A significant social risk factor in old QOL (Donmez et al., 2005). The QOL tends to diminish in
age is the reduction of social connections due to a decline older age, a phase where the prevalence of chronic diseases
in social life engagement (Şahin et al., 2019). This study becomes more pronounced with increasing lifespans.
was motivated by the gap in existing literature, which lacks Chronic diseases significantly impact the physical, social,
comprehensive research exploring the correlation between and emotional dimensions of elderly individuals’ lives,
social support and the quality of life (QOL) in the elderly. necessitating prolonged periods of care and rehabilitation.
The concept of QOL is closely associated with health Many of these conditions lack complete cures, imposing
and its related aspects. For an elderly individual, QOL substantial burdens on the health and economic well-being
refers to the extent of well-being experienced by that of patients, their families, and society at large. Consistent
person. Lawton (1991) suggests that QOL entails a research findings indicate that elderly individuals with
thorough assessment considering both individualized chronic diseases typically experience a reduced QOL
and socially accepted standards. It involves evaluating compared to their counterparts without such health
a person’s interaction with their environment over past, conditions (Ponirou et al., 2014; Deshmukh et al., 2015).
present, and anticipated future periods. According to the Social support refers to the various forms of assistance
World Health Organization (WHO), health is described that a person receives from others, falling under the broad
as a condition marked by full physical, mental, and social categories of instrumental and emotional assistance.
well-being, not simply the lack of disease or illness (WHO, “Emotional support” encompasses caring; love, affection,
2005). The definition of well-being varies across cultures and other factors that help someone feel good about
and individuals. Consequently, individuals often equate themselves. “Instrumental assistance” includes concrete
their health with their QOL. There are two approaches to assistance, such as child care, cleaning, or transportation.
assessing life quality: Subjective and objective. Subjective Having enough social support is essential for a long
QOL pertains to an individual’s satisfaction and enjoyment and healthy life (Charles & Kulandai, 2020). As social
of their living circumstances, while objective QOL involves beings, people rely on actual or perceived resources from
meeting established standards for a decent existence. In others that make them feel cared for and connected to a
essence, subjective QOL involves personal assessments communication network. The concept of social support
of living conditions, whereas objective QOL entails emerged from medicinal settings within the realm of social
unbiased assessments of life conditions. In our study, QOL psychology. This field explores how individuals navigate
pertains to an individual’s comprehensive sense of well- stress and crises, the significance of social connections,

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2358