IMPACT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS ON LONELINESS AMONG THE OLDER PERSONS IN MYANMAR

Abstract

With the increasing life expectancy throughout the world, loneliness in old age is becoming an area of great concern. This study aims at evaluating the prevalence of loneliness and exploring whether social support networks can reduce loneliness among the elderly by undertaking the mix-method. The quantitative analysis employs the data which come from the 2012 national survey of Older Persons in Myanmar. The survey is based on the interviewer-administered questionnaire on 4080 persons aged 60 and above, covering a wide range of topics that are relevant to the assessment of the situation of the older persons. In the study, feelings of loneliness which is the outcome variable of interest are measured in terms of single-item self-reported scale with three ordered responses, single-item deprivation scale with three ordered responses and a two-item composite loneliness scale with five ordered responses. Owing to the ordered response nature of dependent variable, ordered response analyses are undertaken to predict social support networks variables affecting loneliness. In this study, it is found that 29% of the respondents aged 60 and above reported that they feel lonely sometimes or often. Being married, having children, having more frequent contact with children, relatives and non-relatives and maintaining good relationship with family are likely to ward off feelings of loneliness among the elderly. For the currently married older persons, children play a less pivotal role in reducing loneliness than do children for the currently unmarried. Partnership is seen as playing a significant role in lowering loneliness. In addition, it is found that demographic and socio-economic control variables such as age, race, health status, contribution to family economic support, change in family economic situation, family income, access to media and access to a phone are associated with loneliness among the older persons. In addition to the above quantitative empirical analysis, a total of three focus group discussions with a sample of 18 participants were conducted to complement the quantitative analysis and provide additional insights that cannot be derived from the quantitative study. By utilizing content analysis, it is observed that as the economy is undergoing the modernization, the elderly becomes lonelier, in particular for those who lose spouses. Children’s emotional support plays important role in lessening prevalence of loneliness. In addition, visits and emotional support from relatives and neighbor are likely to decrease the lonely feelings. Religion plays much significant role in lowering degree of loneliness. The qualitative findings show the contribution of social support networks to mitigating the lonely feelings, consistent with the quantitative empirical findings. The findings suggest that regional governments should establish social organizations for the elderly, which can provide emotional support the older persons at greater risk of loneliness in collaboration with INGOs and community socialization programs such as a Special Old Age Fund and a health care system for the elderly.