Page 107 - GHES-2-3

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

and the dynamics of societal change (Kasprzak, 2010). further supported by other studies (Umberson & Montez,
According to Sarason et al. (1983), social support entails 2010; Sapp et al., 2003).
the presence or accessibility of individuals we can depend Old age is not solely a biological stage; it also represents
on, trust, and who sincerely demonstrate concern for a social and emotional phase experienced by individuals
us. Zimet et al. (1988) define perceived social support as who have lived through an extensive life journey. Within
a multidimensional construct, encompassing “family,” this context, a social dimension exists wherein certain
“friends,” and “significant others.” In the study, social older individuals, grappling with complex health issues,
support was conceptualized as both perceived and find themselves reliant on others for support. This
multidimensional, impacting variables such as QOL, dependence, compounded by factors such as social
happiness with life, and wellness. Ozbay et al. (2007) isolation, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and a pervasive
contended that social support is a significant factor sense of hopelessness arising from health challenges or the
influencing the preservation of both physical and mental loss of a spouse and loved ones, collectively contributes to
health. Terzi (2008) uncovered a distinct correlation a decline in the QOL for the elderly. The cumulative effect
between perceived social support and psychological of these challenges manifests in an overall poorer QOL for
resilience. In-depth research has explored and substantiated individuals in their later years.
the relationship between social relationships and health,
with multiple studies revealing connections between social The role of social support emerges as a pivotal factor
support and various indicators of well-being in the elderly that could significantly influence the overall QOL
(Kahn et al., 2003; Shin & Sok, 2012). Studies have indicated experienced by the elderly. Intriguingly, despite the
a correlation between heightened levels of social support relevance of this connection, there exists a dearth of prior
studies elucidating the specific impact of social support on
and improved well-being and QOL among older adults the QOL of the elderly in the Siwan district of Bihar, India.
(Holmén & Furukawa, 2002; Golden et al., 2009; Shin & Against this backdrop, the current study was undertaken
Sok, 2012). Social support plays a crucial role in fostering to explore and evaluate the influence of social interaction
health by providing individuals with positive experiences, on various domains of QOL among the elderly population.
socially engaged roles, and improved coping mechanisms
to manage stressful events. For older individuals grappling This study aims to assess the relationship between QOL
with disabilities linked to chronic diseases or facing social and multidimensional perceived social support (MSPSS)
isolation following the loss of a partner, social support among the elderly aged 60 years and older. In line with
becomes particularly crucial. The absence of family or the objective, the following hypothesis was developed:
significant others, coupled with diminished social support Perceived social support among the elderly aged 60 years
networks, may lead to feelings of loneliness and contribute and older has a significant and positive effect on their QOL.
to both physical and emotional health issues among the
elderly (Golden et al., 2009; Shin & Sok, 2012). Behavior, 2. Methods
attitude, psychology, and physical health are greatly 2.1. Study setting
influenced by society. The society to which an individual The study included individuals aged 60 years and older
belongs significantly shapes their goals, attitudes, and who lived in the Siwan district of Bihar, India. According
views. Social support is particularly necessary for those who to the 2011 census data from the Registrar General of
are unwell, in pain, experiencing anxiety or have lost their India, 298,247 individuals aged 60 years and older lived
employment. Ultimately, it affects the different domains of in the Siwan district (RGI, 2011). The sample size was
the life quality of a person. An improved standard of living determined by a multi-stage random sampling method
has been linked with positive social assistance in all four using Equation I:
domains (Yanos et al., 2001). Collectively, previous studies
have repeatedly demonstrated that anxiety, insomnia, z 2 ∝ ×× −(1p ) p
stress, social dysfunction, and deep depression can all n = 2 (I)
result from a lack of social support. These conditions e 2
can ultimately lower one’s QOL and affect both physical As a result, the sample size was calculated to be 476
and psychological well-being. Social participation is individuals, with a 95% confidence interval, a prevalence
positively correlated with the QOL (Ono et al., 2011). The of aging at 8.96%, a margin of error of 3%, a non-response
family plays a crucial role within this framework of social rate of 10%, and a design effect of 1.25. A survey was
support. Strong social networks and supportive family conducted in a total of 17 villages within the district, with
members contribute to improving a person’s QOL, even in 28 respondents sampled from each village. Data collection
the presence of physical and mental sickness. The finding is took place during 2021– 2022.

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