Psychological well-being of institutionalised and non-institutionalised isiXhosa and English ethnic speaking elderly south African residing within the Buffalo City area

Background: International research has clearly indicated that the world’s population is ageing: almost all countries in the world are experiencing a significant growth in the proportion of older persons in their population. This is also true for developing countries such as South Africa that are beginning to show signs and symptoms of an ageing population. Among Southern African Development Communities (SADC), South Africa has the highest number of ‘senior citizens’. Population reports indicate that the population of old people rose from paltry 2.8 million in 1996 to more than 4 million in 2011 and this is expected to skyrocket to seven million by 2030. In spite of the increasing number of senior citizens in socio-structural landscapes in South Africa, there is still lack of adequate, workable and effective policy frameworks for the wellbeing of the elderly. There is also paucity of psychological data of the elderly, especially along racial divides to determine whether the after-effects of apartheid still hold sway or not in post-apartheid South Africa. This study was conceived to investigate the psychological well-being of the elderly in Buffalo City, Eastern Cape, South Africa between two racial-ethnic elderly groups. The specific objectives of the study were to explore the relationship between the socio-demographic characteristics and psychological well-being of the black (Xhosa) and white (English) elderly in Buffalo City, South Africa and second, to validate the relationship between psychological well-being and physical activity, loneliness, spirituality/religiosity as well as ageism among the sampled population. The set-point theory, selective optimisation compensation theory (SOCT) as well as the continuity theory were employed to guide the conduct of the study. Method: Psychological measuring instruments were deployed to collect data for the study from a total of 301 elderly respondents in retirement and private individual homes (191 isiXhosa and 110 English speaking elderly). Both simple random sampling (SRS) and purposive sampling procedures were used to select the respondents. The measuring instruments included the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-being (RSPWB), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), Assessment of Spiritual and Religious Sentiments Scale (ASPIRES), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale, the Palmore Ageism Survey scale and a biographical questionnaire. Data was analysed using MANOVA, One-way variance analysis and regression coefficient. The racial differences logically influenced the selection of the respondents for the study. Results: The study revealed a significant statistical relationship between physical activity (PA) and psychological well-being of the elderly, regardless of the sociodemographic variables. PA showed a significant relationship with psychological wellbeing of the elderly. The study also discovered that loneliness correlates significantly with all four of the psychological well-being scales. It shows that the higher the levels of loneliness experienced by the elderly, socio-demographic variables controlled, the lower the levels of psychological well-being in terms of autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. However, with the exception of the relationship between loneliness and purpose in life, ethnic affiliation moderates autonomy, environmental mastery and self-acceptance. English elderly constantly experienced higher levels of autonomy than the isiXhosa elderly do with an increase in loneliness. The study also found a positive relationship between ageism and psychological well- being. However, with low levels of ageism, the English elderly, in comparison with the isiXhosa elderly, is likely to show higher levels of autonomy. In addition, a significant statistical relationship between ageism and environmental mastery and purpose in life was found among the isiXhosa elderly. Although, with an increase in ageism, there is a slight increase in autonomy in both groups, the English elderly throughout showed higher levels of autonomy than the isiXhosa elderly showed. The study found a positive relationship between religiosity/spirituality and psychological well-being of the elderly. However, race could moderate the relationship between prayer fulfillment and psychological well-being at all four levels (autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and self-acceptance). With an increase in prayer fulfillment, the autonomy of the English elderly increases fairly quickly, while the autonomy of the isiXhosa elderly decreases slightly. Comparatively, the study found that isiXhosa elderly reported lower levels of psychological well-being than the English elderly. Conclusion/Recommendation: The study concludes that there is the need to develop a solid national data bases on needs and use of services, and process of ageing in order to access research data to assist planning, dissemination, delivery and evaluation of effective service delivery for the elderly population in South Africa, especially along racial divides

Socio-contextual factors as determinants of psychological wellbeing of selected aged in South Africa: a moderating approach

The psychological wellbeing of the elderly has become an important global health issue. This study investigated the socio-contextual factors moderating some dimensions of psychological well-being (self-acceptance, purpose in life, environmental mastery and autonomy) among 301 selected aged in South Africa. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were deployed to select the respondents (93 males and 208 females) in Buffalo city, South Africa. A questionnaire pack which included the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale (RPWBS) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) were utilised. The study found a significant relationship between physical activity and psychological wellbeing of the elderly. However, ethnicity could moderate the relationship between physical activity and the dimensions of psychological wellbeing. Recreational activities, particularly in Black communities, must be improved to encourage participation in physical exercise.http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjsshhj2022Psycholog

Perceptions of homosexual Xhosa men of ulwaluko (traditional circumcision)

vital:61292The study investigated perceptions of homosexual Xhosa traditionally circumcised men with regards to ulwaluko (Xhosa initiation into manhood). The study employed snowball sampling as a method of data collection. As a result of the assumption that ulwaluko is a terrain of masculinity, initiates were expected to exemplify traditional notions of masculinity. The study found that reasons for going to initiation school differed. Respondents wanted to validate their manhood while some felt forced to undergo the ritual. Dominant family values also played a role in respondent’s decision to undergo initiation. Respondents reported that community members and family members had hoped that ulwaluko would reform or convert those who were homosexual.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 201

Perceptions of homosexual Xhosa men of ulwaluko (traditional circumcision)

The study investigated perceptions of homosexual Xhosa traditionally circumcised men with regards to ulwaluko (Xhosa initiation into manhood). The study employed snowball sampling as a method of data collection. As a result of the assumption that ulwaluko is a terrain of masculinity, initiates were expected to exemplify traditional notions of masculinity. The study found that reasons for going to initiation school differed. Respondents wanted to validate their manhood while some felt forced to undergo the ritual. Dominant family values also played a role in respondent’s decision to undergo initiation. Respondents reported that community members and family members had hoped that ulwaluko would reform or convert those who were homosexual.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 201

Loneliness and psychological well-being among the elderly in Buffalo City, South Africa

This study examined the correlation between loneliness and four dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB) of old people in South Africa as they vary by their socio-demographic characteristics. Respondents were a non-probability/random sample of 301 elderly in Buffalo City, South Africa (female = 69.1%, male = 30.9%; mean age (old age home /private home) = 75.43 /74.39 years, SD (old age home /private home) = 7.25 /7.68 years; black = 57.9%, white = 42.1%) were used. The respondents completed the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale (RPWBS) and the University of California Loneliness Scale (UCLALS). Hierarchical regression analysis results indicate ethnicity is predictive of loneliness. Specifically, black people had both lower levels of loneliness and autonomy compared to the white elderly. Moreover, white elderly with low levels of loneliness had higher levels of self-acceptance compared to the black elderly. These findings suggest ethnic affiliation to moderate self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and autonomy; except for purpose in life. Interventions to support the elderly with loneliness should prioritise building their social capital base for psychological well-being.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rpia202022-08-24hj2022Psycholog

Parental experiences of subjective well-being in the context of infant sleep problems

OBJECTIVE : This study explored parental experiences of subjective well-being in the context of infant sleep problems. BACKGROUND : Although quantitative research has highlighted the deleterious impact of infant sleep problems for parental well-being broadly, little is known about subjective experiences of well-being specifically. METHOD : This retrospective qualitative study formed part of a larger multiphase project. Ten parents who approached a sleep consultancy for assistance with infant sleep problems participated in the study. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and results were analysed thematically. RESULTS : Two key themes were identified: (1) the negative influences of insufficient sleep on parental subjective well-being, and (2) the indirect influence of infant sleep problems on parental subjective well-being. Participants highlighted the direct influence of insufficient sleep on their life satisfaction, affect and mood. Further, through its impact on infant well-being and behaviour, and the loss of free time, infant sleep problems indirectly negatively influenced parental subjective well-being. As a result, life satisfaction and affect was deleteriously influenced. CONCLUSION : Parental subjective well-being may be deleteriously influenced by infant sleep problems, both directly through insufficient sleep and indirectly through the impact of infant sleep problems.The National Research Foundation.https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cjri202023-09-01hj2023Psycholog