The influence of socioeconomic indicators on a senior’s self-esteem

• Published in: Working with older people (Brighton, England) England), 2024-04, Vol.28 (2), p.185-196
• Main Authors: Shah, Naqeeb Hussain, Paracha, Samiullah, Shafiq, Mohammed, Mehmood, Faisal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic staff; Activities of daily living; Age; Aging; Clinical assessment; Cultural differences; Culture; Emotions; Friendship; Happiness; Health policy; Hormones; Interpersonal relations; Intimacy; Males; Mental health; Mental health services; Mind and body; Neighborhoods; Older people; Politicians; Psychological research; Public health; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Relatives; Respect; Retirement; Self concept; Self esteem; Self image; Social integration; Social networks; Social relations; Social support; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; Socioeconomics; Stress; Treatment programs; Variables; Volunteers; Well being; Women
• ISSN: 1366-3666; 1366-3666; 2042-8790
• DOI: 10.1108/WWOP-02-2023-0005

Purpose Aging is a complex and multifactorial process. This study aims to is focus on mattering in older people. Mattering is the feeling of being important to others in ways that give individuals the sense that they are valued and other people care about them. However, for many, aging brings about the loss of self-esteem, and they feel useless, deprived and unwanted. The authors have adopted the partial least square structural equation modeling technique and Self-Esteem Scale of Rosenberg for evaluating the level of self-esteem in senior citizens of Pakistan. The results reveal a strong association between the predictor and the criterion variables, supporting the view that the communal integration construct is the strongest determinant in old age. Based on the results, the authors can argue that socioeconomic status, social relationships and daily activities and have a direct association with the elderly people’s self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach The Self-Esteem Questionnaire by Rosenberg (Rosenberg, 1965) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire by Bowling (Bowling, Banister, Sutton Evans and Windsor (2002) are two tested tools that were used to collect the sample data from various neighborhoods of Peshawar. The sample consisted of respondents who were 60 years of age or older. The current study only included men who were 60 years of age or older because men make up a higher number of retirees in the district (84%) than do women. A total of 312 male volunteers, representing a various cadre of job, were recruited at random. The research population’s data were gathered through convenience sampling. Only volunteers who appeared to be healthy in both body and mind were chosen as participants. When older people were unable to complete questionnaires, researchers helped them read the questions and then helped them write down their answers. Out of the 500 survey forms that were sent, 312 were properly completed and used for the analysis. Findings The results of this study suggest that the happiness and well-being of retired seniors are not only influenced by their general activities, health and socioeconomic status but also more strongly by their psycho-social integration, such as their close and intimate relationships with friends, family and relatives. The findings, therefore, urge the incorporation of social integration aspects in mental health treatment programs and public health policies to support the psycho-social well-being of the elderly. Social re