Correlation Between Self-Perception Towards Ageing And Subjective Well-Being Of Older Adults In Kajulu Ward, Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

The older adults of the 21st century are experiencing a longer lifespan. This trend

may be viewed as an achievement as well as a challenge to the society. The ageing

populations are faced with physical, psychosocial, emotional, cognitive,

behavioural and environmental changes. In the process, the older adults form

beliefs, attitudes and feelings and perform behaviours that influence their

perception towards ageing and well-being. Research into self-perception towards

ageing and subjective well-being of older adults is at an early stage world over.

Most of the available information has been obtained from studies conducted west.

However, studies done in Kenya have focused on older adult’s abuse and

vulnerability. Furthermore, these studies have used younger populations, thus lack

self-reporting by the older adults themselves. Therefore, this study aimed at

establishing the correlation between self-perception towards ageing and subjective

well-being of older adults in Kajulu ward, Kisumu County. The study objectives

were to: establish the relationship between self-perception towards ageing and

subjective well-being, to find out the influence of demographic characteristic on

self-perception towards ageing, determine the influence of demographic

characteristics on subjective well-being, and lastly to establish the strongest

predictor of subjective well-being of older adults. The study adopted Theory of

Reasoned Action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) and Theory of Planned Behaviour

(Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980) that relate to voluntary cognitive behavioural

representation and involuntary emotional behaviours respectively. Causalcomparative

and correlation research designs were used to obtain data from a

random sample of 140 older adults aged above 65years. The data was collected by

use of questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, the

ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey HSD tests and regression analysis. The

study instrument had a reliability of ά = .65. Findings revealed a weak, negative

correlation between self-perception towards ageing and subjective well-being of

older adults. Employment status and poor self-perceived health significantly

influenced self-perception towards ageing. The findings further revealed that

being married, having own source of income, attaining secondary education and

poor self-perceived health significantly influenced subjective well-being. The

relative absence of negative affect, positive affect and satisfaction with life

emerged as the strongest predictor’s of subjective well-being of older adults.

Understanding the dynamics and intrapersonal processes of self-perception

towards ageing may help in adopting psychological interventions, strategies and

policy programs that could enhance subjective well-being of older adults.