International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12

line decor
  
line decor

 Volume 11, Issue 12 (December 2024), Pages: 42-47

----------------------------------------------

 Original Research Paper

Factors influencing elderly coping with social challenges in Thailand's aging society

 Author(s): 

 Uea-Umporn Tipayatikumporn 1, Piyawadee Jindachote 1, Samneang Maneechai 1, Karnjana Potivichayanont 1, Praiporn Saengchan 1, Prasart Nuangchalerm 2, *

 Affiliation(s):

 1Graduate School, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
 2Faculty of Education, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand

 Full text

  Full Text - PDF

 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5361-0377

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.12.005

 Abstract

Thailand is facing a rapidly aging population, presenting numerous social challenges for the elderly that necessitate effective coping mechanisms to sustain their well-being. This study investigates factors influencing their ability to cope with aging-related challenges and the mechanisms driving their adaptation. A total of 330 participants aged 60 years and older were surveyed. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling with AMOS, and path analysis. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, with participants divided into three age groups: 60-69, 70-79, and 80+. Content analysis was applied to the qualitative data. Findings revealed that cooperation and societal support had the highest factor loading (0.809), while technological proficiency had the lowest (0.513). The structural equation model showed a high coefficient of determination (R² = 85%) for adaptation. The results underscore that adaptability is a key factor in coping with aging challenges, enabling physical and mental adjustment. Enhancing technological skills and promoting government policies and sector collaboration are vital for improving quality of life and readiness to address Thailand’s transition to a super-aged society.

 © 2024 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Aging population, Adaptation mechanisms, Societal support, Technological skills, Government policies

 Article history

 Received 19 July 2024, Received in revised form 10 October 2024, Accepted 16 November 2024

 Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University for its academic resources and Mahasarakham University for its financial support.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

This study adhered to ethical research standards. Participants provided informed consent, and their confidentiality was safeguarded. No personally identifiable information was collected, and all data were anonymized.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Tipayatikumporn UU, Jindachote P, Maneechai S, Potivichayanont K, Saengchan P, and Nuangchalerm P (2024). Factors influencing elderly coping with social challenges in Thailand's aging society. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(12): 42-47

 Permanent Link to this page

 Figures

 Fig. 1

 Tables

 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 

----------------------------------------------   

 References (21)

  1. Bruinsma J, Peetoom K, Bakker C, Boots L, Verhey F, and de Vugt M (2022). ‘They simply do not understand’: A focus group study exploring the lived experiences of family caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia. Aging and Mental Health, 26(2): 277-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1857697   [Google Scholar] PMid:33325262
  2. Carstensen LL (2021). Socioemotional selectivity theory: The role of perceived endings in human motivation. The Gerontologist, 61(8): 1188-1196. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab116   [Google Scholar] PMid:34718558 PMCid:PMC8599276
  3. Carstensen LL and Hershfield HE (2021). Beyond stereotypes: Using socioemotional selectivity theory to improve messaging to older adults. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 30(4): 327-334. https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214211011468   [Google Scholar] PMid:34366582 PMCid:PMC8340497
  4. Chanakul C, Wannachot W, Prachagool V, and Nuangchalerm P (2022). Fostering social innovation for quality of life building in two generations. Journal of Educational Issues, 8(2): 524-534. https://doi.org/10.5296/jei.v8i2.20192   [Google Scholar]
  5. Charles ST (2022). Socioemotional selectivity theory. In: Gu D and Dupre ME (Eds.), Encyclopedia of gerontology and population aging: 4708-4710. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_514   [Google Scholar]
  6. Chen YRR and Schulz PJ (2016). The effect of information communication technology interventions on reducing social isolation in the elderly: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research 18: e18. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4596   [Google Scholar] PMid:26822073 PMCid:PMC4751336
  7. Donovan NJ and Blazer D (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: Review and commentary of a national academies report. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(12): 1233-1244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.08.005   [Google Scholar] PMid:32919873 PMCid:PMC7437541
  8. Fang EF, Xie C, Schenkel JA, Wu C, Long Q, Cui H, Aman Y, Frank J, Liao J, Zou H, and Wang NY (2020). A research agenda for ageing in China in the 21st century: Focusing on basic and translational research, long-term care, policy and social networks. Ageing Research Reviews, 64: 101174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2020.101174   [Google Scholar] PMid:32971255 PMCid:PMC7505078
  9. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, and Stephenson D (2015). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 10(2): 227-237. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614568352   [Google Scholar] PMid:25910392
  10. Hülür G and Macdonald B (2020). Rethinking social relationships in old age: Digitalization and the social lives of older adults. American Psychologist, 75(4): 554-566. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000604   [Google Scholar] PMid:32378949
  11. León LPD, Mangin JPL, and Ballesteros S (2020). Psychosocial determinants of quality of life and active aging. A structural equation model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(17): 6023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176023   [Google Scholar] PMid:32824975 PMCid:PMC7503318
  12. Lobo CS and Falleiro SP (2023). Work, retirement, and post-retirement employment among older adults in India. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 10(10): 62-70. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2023.10.007   [Google Scholar]
  13. Lukyanets A, Okhrimenko I, and Egorova M (2021). Population aging and its impact on the country's economy. Social Science Quarterly, 102: 722-736. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12936   [Google Scholar]
  14. McGarrigle L and Todd C (2020). Promotion of physical activity in older people using mHealth and eHealth technologies: Rapid review of reviews. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22: e22201. https://doi.org/10.2196/22201   [Google Scholar] PMid:33372894 PMCid:PMC7803474
  15. Padeiro M, de Sao Jose J, Amado C, Sousa L, Roma Oliveira C, Esteves A, and McGarrigle J (2022). Neighborhood attributes and well-being among older adults in urban areas: A mixed-methods systematic review. Research on Aging, 44(5-6): 351-368. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027521999980   [Google Scholar] PMid:33906556 PMCid:PMC9039320
  16. Stallman HM (2020). Health theory of coping. Australian Psychologist, 55(4): 295-306. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12465   [Google Scholar]
  17. Suardiaz-Muro M, Ortega-Moreno M, Morante-Ruiz M, Monroy M, Ruiz MA, Martín-Plasencia P, and Vela-Bueno A (2023). Sleep quality and sleep deprivation: Relationship with academic performance in university students during examination period. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 21: 377-383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41105-023-00457-1   [Google Scholar] PMid:38469079 PMCid:PMC10900033
  18. Victor C, Scambler S, and Bond J (2008). EBOOK: The social world of older people: Understanding loneliness and social isolation in later life. McGraw-Hill Education, London, UK.   [Google Scholar]
  19. Wenger GC (2021). The supportive network: Coping with old age. Routledge, London, UK. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003206989   [Google Scholar]
  20. Windle G (2011). What is resilience? A review and concept analysis. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 21(2): 152-169. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959259810000420   [Google Scholar]
  21. Zhang F, Loo BP, and Wang B (2022). Aging in place: From the neighborhood environment, sense of community, to life satisfaction. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 112(5): 1484-1499. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2021.1985954   [Google Scholar]