©NIDEA 1 Dr. Sheena Moosa 12 th IFA 2014 Conference, Hyderabad, June MBBS, MPH ROLE OF SOCIAL VALUES IN ENHANCING WELLBEING OF OLDER PEOPLE Affiliations: National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis (NIDEA), University of Waikato Acknowledgments: Professor Peggy Koopman-Boyden, CNZM

©NIDEA 2 Country differences in wellbeing attributed to socio- cultural context Little attention to the role of social values & in relation to healthy ageing research paradigms Important in developing country contexts; – public welfare support systems are not well established. – Development is accompanied by socio-cultural changes Rationale

©NIDEA 3 Individual values and social values. Value system paradigms used to describe developed and developing countries. – Individualism-collectivism – Self-transcendence and conservation values Emerging research on social values or national values Social values: “shared, abstract ideas of what is good, right and desirable in a society” (Knafo, Roccas, & Sagiv (2011:179) Social norms: “what people in a society should value or show they should behave”( Hofstede, 2011) Theory

©NIDEA 4 Qualitative inquiry followed by quantitative survey Research context: Maldives, older people 65+ years Qualitative: understand the desired social values & norms from the perspective of older people – 10 value items (Shwartz value types) explored – Open-ended narrative inquiry (N=12) – Five items (values &norms) identified – Indicator and measure for use in survey developed Methods: Phase 1

©NIDEA 5 Quantitative survey: – determine perceived levels of conformity of the community to the desired social values & norms – Establish the significance and correlations with wellbeing Sample: – Structured questionnaire – Participants 65+ years randomly selected using a multiple cluster sampling approach – Telephone-based administration Method: Phase 2.

©NIDEA 6 1.Level of conformity to desired social values & norms (multi-item measure – 5 items on Lickert scale 3-1) – Safety, Benevolence, Tradition, Conformity & Altruism – Indicator score computed from average of the item score 2. Satisfaction with conformity to desired social values and norms (Single item measure). 3. Overall satisfaction with life (single item measure). Method: Measures

©NIDEA 7 Measure for the level of conformity to desired social values & norms Method: Measures Cont. Social value & norm Items measured (on 4 week recall period) Scale 321 Security Based on your observation in the past 4 weeks, Is safe to walk around on the streets (of the island)? MostlySometimesNot at all Benevolence In the past 4 weeks, did you observe that people have to be very careful in dealing with others(on the island) or you can trust them? Most can beSome Have to be very careful Tradition In the past 4 weeks, did you observe that people (on the island) respect elders? Most doSome doMost don’t Conformity In the past 4 weeks, did you observe that people (on the island) look after their elderly parents and relatives? Most doSome doMost don’t AltruismIn the past 4 weeks, did you observe that people in your island volunteer to help neighbours and others? Most doSome doMost don’t

©NIDEA 8 IndicatorsLevelMaleFemaleUrbanruralTotal % within Gender % within urban- rural % of Total Level of conformity to desired social values and norms Poor11.7%10.7%36.9%4.2%11.2% Neither good nor poor 56.1%59.2%54.8%58.4%57.7% Good32.1%30.1%8.3%37.3%31.1% Satisfaction with conformity to desired social values and norms Dissatisfied27.7%24.5%44.6%21.1%26.1% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 32.3%34.7%32.5%33.8%33.5% Satisfied40.0%40.8%22.9%45.1%40.4% Wellbeing (Satisfaction with life) Dissatisfied6.2%11.7%14.3%7.5%9.0% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 22.1%31.1%17.9%29.0%26.6% Satisfied71.8%57.1%67.9%63.5%64.5% Results: Descriptive

©NIDEA 9 r=.211; p<.001 r=.280; p<.001 Results: Correlations Satisfaction with social values & norms 8% WELLBEING Level of social values & norms 4% Value item Correlation (r ² ) Security/ Safety0.5% Benevolence/ Trust5.4% Tradition/Respect3.3% Conformity/ Care for elders2.1% Altruism/ help others7.5%

©NIDEA 10 Significant (P<.01) correlation with wellbeing Moderate correlation Mixed pattern of self-transcendence & conservation value types Important desired social values are altruism, trust and respect Explained by social determination theory Conclusions

©NIDEA 11 Social values at national level explain differences in rules, policies & practices Neighborhood plans that enhance wellbeing of older people: – Opportunities for generativity – ‘Shared Spaces’ in neighbourhoods – Promoting intergenerational interaction Implications for policy practices

©NIDEA 12 Thank you Dr. Sheena Moosa