IMPACT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS ON PERCEIVED LONELINESS IN ELDERLY

Abstract

Objective: To find out the impact of social support and adjustment problems on perceived loneliness in elderly.

Study Design: Correlational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Data was obtained from old houses of Lahore and residences of Gujrat Pakistan, from Mar 2019 to May 2019.

Methodology: Total sample of 150 elderlies of age 60 and above, living either in old homes (n=75) or with their family (n=75) was taken by purposive and snowball sampling techniques respectively. For data collection, Urdu versions of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Scale for Adjustment Problems for Adults and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale were used. In first phase, the translation of De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale was conducted in Urdu by using forward backward translation method and in second phase, data collection was carried out with three standardized scales.

Results: The results were significant and revealed that social support has negative correlation with loneliness (r=-0.57, p<0.01) while adjustment problems have positive correlation with loneliness (r=0.59, p<0.01). Family members’ support (R²=0.38, F (3,146) = 29.72, p<0.01) and adjustment problems (R²=0.47, F (8,141) = 15.51, p<0.01) are the predictors of loneliness among the elderly.

Conclusion: Social support and adjustment problems served as the predictors of perceived loneliness among elderly. Moreover, significant differences have been found for social support, adjustment problems and perceived loneliness in elderly people residing in homes and in old age institutions.