Supportive exchange: an exploration of the relationship between social contacts and perceived health status in the elderly

The relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and population health is contextual. This study identifies the determinants of SEP producing health inequalities in the Latvian population. We also estimate the proportional contribution of different socioeconomic strata- (SES-) related determinants in Latvian health inequalities and measure the changes in the relative contributions of such determinants over the period 2005–2015. Using the household survey data (2005–2015), we construct a principal component analysis based SES index. A regression-based concentration index (CI) is our measure of health inequality to examine the distribution of perceived health status. Finally, we identify and estimate the contribution of predictors of health inequalities by decomposing CI with Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition. SES-related health inequalities have declined from 2005 (CI: 0.201) to 2015 (CI: 0.137) in Latvia—better-off Latvians enjoyed better perceived health during that period. The proportional contributions of education and working status have increased in 2015 compared to 2005. Although we have generated the first evidence to suggest policy relevant measures in addressing Latvian health inequalities, our decomposition method explains the extent of variation in perceived health instead of covariance between health and SEP.

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Attitude Towards Ageing and Perceived Health Status among the Elderly in Malaysia

ADVANCES IN BUSINESS RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ◽

10.24191/abrij.v2i2.10022 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 27

Author(s):

Noor’ain Mohamad Yunus ◽

Noor Hazilah Abd Manaf ◽

Azura Omar ◽

Nurita Juhdi ◽

Mohd Azhadi Omar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Older People ◽

Perceived Health ◽

The Elderly ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

World Health ◽

Limited Attention ◽

Adult Health ◽

Perceived Health Status

There is an increasing number of older people globally, thus it is essential to build knowledge of how older people view their own ageing, considering their health related circumstances. However, limited attention has been given to attitude towards ageing, particularly in Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between self- perception of ageing and perceived health status in adults aged 60 years and above. This study is primarily conducted via survey among the elderly patients who are 60 years old and above, who are using the services at public hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia. The ‘Attitudes towards ageing’ questionnaire was used to measure participants’ perception of ageing, while perceived health status was measured using questions from the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) developed by World Health Organization(WHO). All items in both questionnaires were measured on a 5-point Likert-scale. The findings reveal that positive attitudes to ageing were associated with health status in older adults. The research contributes to greater understanding of the attitudes among the elderly towards ageing and their perceived health status. Understanding these associations may help healthcare providers and policy makers consider strategies to enhance the quality of life of the elderly.

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