Qualitative Inquiry into Quality of Life among Older Adults in Bhutan
Journal Title: Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR) - Year 2018, Vol 5, Issue 4
Abstract
A considerable amount of international research into Quality of Life (QOL) seeks to explain the determinants of health and well-being as we age. Many older adults in Bhutan continue to live traditionally in socially integrated Buddhist communities. Popular understanding of health and QOL to some extent could be different from western populations. This qualitative study employed in-depth interviews with 30 older adults (aged 60 to 83 years). Content analysis generated key themes. Finding indicated most older participants experience good QOL. Close family integration and interpersonal harmony, respect for the older people, spirituality, chronic health conditions and adverse childhood experiences, lack of education, insufficient income, and changes in the sources of practical help in the community influenced QOL. Further research is needed to systematically examine the relative contribution of various factors to health and QOL among elderly people in Bhutan and similar communities. Ageing is affecting all countries of the world [1]. The population of older adults (≥ 60 years) in Bhutan is estimated to increase from 4.7% in 2005 to 11.2% in 2045 [2]. Bhutanese communities are largely agrarian with nearly 70% of the population living in rural areas [3]. However, more and more people are observed to be moving to urban areas in search of better economic futures [2,4], leaving behind older adults in the rural communities to fend for themselves [5,6] and is likely to cause feeling of isolation [7] and self-report poor health conditions [8]. Traditionally, older adults are held in high esteem because of their wisdom and vast experiences in life. However, trend such as urbanization and modernization, likely to change family structures most notably affecting care and support of the older family members [9] as well as cohesion and cooperation of the extended family [10,11]. Although some studies in Cambodia and Thailand argue such proponent [12,13], family still remains as the primary source of support for older people in most Asian societies [9,12]. Breakdowns in the family values and their support are speculated to lead to a host of psychological illnesses [14]. Empirically, the nuclear family system is increasingly becoming a norm especially in urban areas of Bhutan. QOL is an elusive concept with various meanings in academic and everyday life [15]. Although, there is no general consensus on a single definition of QOL till date [16], one of the ways to overcome this problem is to have a concept locally defined through their perceived meaningfulness that reflects the individual’s lived experiences of the concept [17]. Social relationships and contacts are the most important aspects of QOL [18]. For older adults, relationships with children and grandchildren continue to make up an important component of their QOL [19]. A study among older adults in India revealed better QOL among those living within the joint families [20]. Decline in close family ties is perceived to have negative influence on the health and QOL of older adults [11]. In many parts of the world, disintegration of social connection is felt hard especially among older adults, although it remains to be determined whether this problem is, at this time, is a major feature of Bhutanese society. Older people’s engagement in spiritual activities increases with age [21] since spirituality is believed to enhance QOL [22]. Positive relationships between spirituality, subjective QOL and wellbeing have been found in various cultures. For instance, spiritual people are reported to be treated with more respect and experience somewhat higher level of happiness and life satisfaction [23]. Spiritual engagement may be an important associate of QOL among older adults [24], although the mechanism by which spirituality alters health outcomes is debatable. Traditionally, respect for older adults has been built into the social fabric in most Asian countries. However, this may be changing over the time [25] and the extent of changes differs by country [26]. Social norms in Bhutan mandates respect for older adults. However, with rapid socio-economic modernization, change in the family structure and function, education, force of materialism Bhutan continues to face, the seemingly deterioration in respect for older adults and its influence on their QOL remain obvious [27,28].
Authors and Affiliations
Nidup Dorji, Michael P Dunne, Charrlotte Seib, Sibnath Deb
Keywords
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- EP ID EP591787
- DOI 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.05.001244
- Views 156
- Downloads 0
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