The Self-Adjustment and Social Supports of Elderly in Municipality, Ubon Ratchathani

Abstract

Background and Objective :   Currently, there is an increase of numbers of elderly in Thailand due to physical and environmental factors expanded the life expectancy.  Nevertheless, there still are several limitations related to economical and social factors affected the daily living of elderly.  Therefore, Thai elderly are required to adjust themselves and live their lives successfully.  This study aims to evaluate the correlation among social support, social activity involvement, problem-focused coping and self-adjustment of elderly at Ubon Ratchathani Municipality

Methods: It is a descriptive, cross-sectional design.  There were totally 371 elderly volunteers living at Ubon Ratchathani province enrolled in this study.  A questionnaire survey was launched for data collection.  The statistics included both descriptive and analytical methods were implemented including; T-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis. 

Results: The results showed most of volunteers were elderly females (61.2%), married (66%), and with a single family (50.7%).  Their educational levels were mostly at the primary scho9ol level or below (57%).  The overall results found most elderly have all problem-focused coping, social supports, and self-adjustment in good levels.  Interestingly, only marital status and type of family were involved with a self-adjustment.  Noticeably, elderly volunteers with a higher level of education can also do a better self-adjustment than those with a lower level.  More importantly, the results revealed a problem-focused coping was highly positively related to a self-adjustment in elderly.  In contrast, social support and social activity involvement were less positively involved with a self-adjustment. 

Conclusion: Conclusively, the elderly have the problem-focused coping, social supports, and self-adjustment in good levels.  Only, a problem-focused coping was strongly related to a self-adjustment of Thai elderly.

Key words:  Elderly    Self-Adjustment    Social Support    Problem-Focused Coping