Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors
This research paper examined social isolation and aging in Zambia by examining possible predictors. The paper produces evidence on risk factors likely to engender social isolation among the elderly population of Zambia. Snowball sampling was undertaken to select 690 adults aged 60 and over in commun...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Aging Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/537467 |
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| _version_ | 1832558575058157568 |
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| author | Christopher Chabila Mapoma Gift Masaiti |
| author_facet | Christopher Chabila Mapoma Gift Masaiti |
| author_sort | Christopher Chabila Mapoma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research paper examined social isolation and aging in Zambia by examining possible predictors. The paper produces evidence on risk factors likely to engender social isolation among the elderly population of Zambia. Snowball sampling was undertaken to select 690 adults aged 60 and over in communities as well as those living in homes for the aged. A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information from respondents. Results show that old people in Zambia experience forms of social isolation which exhibit themselves (but not limited to) through such factors as loss of appetite, stress, moody, hopeless, useless, unhappy, and lonely. On balance, however, the direction of association and the number of statistically significant findings suggest that associations between variables examined and risk factors associated with social isolation amongst older people in this analysis could explain the overall situation occuring currently in Zambia and probably other developing countries. In view of this, this study recommends that further work is needed to identify and explain details of factors of social isolation using techniques such as focus group discussions as well as in-depth interviews with key informants. Such approaches may even help to explain why, for example, sex seems not to be significant in determining indicators of social isolation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2eb924d5ca49485b8685a1611a4806ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-2204 2090-2212 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Aging Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-2eb924d5ca49485b8685a1611a4806ac2025-02-03T01:32:03ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122012-01-01201210.1155/2012/537467537467Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible PredictorsChristopher Chabila Mapoma0Gift Masaiti1Department of Population Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia, Box 32379, Lusaka, ZambiaInstitute of Economics of Education and Management, Graduate School of Education, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430074, ChinaThis research paper examined social isolation and aging in Zambia by examining possible predictors. The paper produces evidence on risk factors likely to engender social isolation among the elderly population of Zambia. Snowball sampling was undertaken to select 690 adults aged 60 and over in communities as well as those living in homes for the aged. A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information from respondents. Results show that old people in Zambia experience forms of social isolation which exhibit themselves (but not limited to) through such factors as loss of appetite, stress, moody, hopeless, useless, unhappy, and lonely. On balance, however, the direction of association and the number of statistically significant findings suggest that associations between variables examined and risk factors associated with social isolation amongst older people in this analysis could explain the overall situation occuring currently in Zambia and probably other developing countries. In view of this, this study recommends that further work is needed to identify and explain details of factors of social isolation using techniques such as focus group discussions as well as in-depth interviews with key informants. Such approaches may even help to explain why, for example, sex seems not to be significant in determining indicators of social isolation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/537467 |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Chabila Mapoma Gift Masaiti Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors Journal of Aging Research |
| title | Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors |
| title_full | Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors |
| title_fullStr | Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors |
| title_short | Social Isolation and Aging in Zambia: Examining the Possible Predictors |
| title_sort | social isolation and aging in zambia examining the possible predictors |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/537467 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christopherchabilamapoma socialisolationandaginginzambiaexaminingthepossiblepredictors AT giftmasaiti socialisolationandaginginzambiaexaminingthepossiblepredictors |