IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i21p14572-d964933.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Influencing Factors on Living Alone and Social Isolation among Older Adults in Rural Areas of Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Pawinee Iamtrakul

    (Center of Excellence in Urban Mobility Research and Innovation, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Paholyothin Street, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand)

  • Sararad Chayphong

    (Center of Excellence in Urban Mobility Research and Innovation, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Paholyothin Street, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand)

Abstract

Older adults living alone present a vulnerable physical and mental health group with public health and service needs. This situation has risen and is therefore expected to increase calls for urgent attention from concerned authorities. This article focuses on the study of factors related to different living arrangements of older adults and also examines the extent to which baseline variables explained the association between living alone and social isolation characteristics. A questionnaire survey restricted to respondents aged 60 years and over, living in Ban Phaeo, Samutsakhon, Thailand, was scoped for data collection. Older adults living alone and in co-residence (living together) constitute a total of 1162 samples. The binary logistic regression model was applied to examine the association between living alone and social isolation characteristics. The result found that factors relating to older adults’ different living arrangements are marital status, household members numbers, level of dependency, and type of caregivers. An association was found between the characteristics of living alone and social isolation in three relative variables, which are age, activities of daily living (ADLs), and type of caregivers. In conclusion, household living arrangements have different related factors like marital status, where a single or divorced person is more likely to live alone. Furthermore, it is also influenced by the need for caregiving on the part of the older adult or family members; particularly, their children typically emerge as the unpaid assistance from families. When only a sample of older adults living alone with social isolation is considered, it was discovered that with the advancing age of older adults living alone, whether single or married, encountered problems with the activities of daily living (ADLs). This set of people rarely goes out to perform activities outside their home and seldom attend social and physical activities. This could lead to a risk of social isolation with a greater risk of physical and mental health problems, including the well-being of older adults living alone in later life. Thus, family caregivers play a key role as a primary source of support to prevent older adults from being socially isolated, which has become an integral part of our healthcare system in promoting physical, mental, and functional health among older adults in a positive way.

Suggested Citation

  • Pawinee Iamtrakul & Sararad Chayphong, 2022. "Exploring the Influencing Factors on Living Alone and Social Isolation among Older Adults in Rural Areas of Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-18, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14572-:d:964933
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14572/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/21/14572/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Reher & Miguel Requena, 2018. "Living Alone in Later Life: A Global Perspective," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 44(3), pages 427-454, September.
    2. Pawinee Iamtrakul & Sararad Chayphong & Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha, 2021. "The Association of Falls Risk in Older Adults and Their Living Environment: A Case Study of Rural Area, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Pawinee Iamtrakul & Sararad Chayphong & Adrian Yat Wai Lo, 2022. "Exploring the Contribution of Social and Economic Status Factors (SES) to the Development of Learning Cities (LC)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Hui Wang & Kun Chen & Yifeng Pan & Fangyuan Jing & He Liu, 2013. "Associations and Impact Factors between Living Arrangements and Functional Disability among Older Chinese Adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, January.
    5. Sohyune R Sok & Eun K Yun, 2011. "A comparison of physical health status, self‐esteem, family support and health‐promoting behaviours between aged living alone and living with family in Korea," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(11‐12), pages 1606-1612, June.
    6. Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan & John Knodel & Wiraporn Pothisiri, 2015. "What does living alone really mean for older persons? A comparative study of Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(48), pages 1329-1360.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Pawinee Iamtrakul & Sararad Chayphong & Yoshitsugu Hayashi, 2024. "An Integrative Investigation of Travel Satisfaction, Streetscape Perception, and Mental Health in Urban Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Sara Delolmo-Romero & María Correa-Rodríguez & M-Cristina Sánchez-Martínez & Rocío Gil-Gutiérrez & Norberto Ortego-Centeno & Blanca Rueda-Medina, 2024. "Social Health and Its Influence on Metabolic Health Among a Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 33(1), pages 9-18, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jeofrey Bautista Abalos & Wei-Jun Jean Yeung, 2023. "Demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors for the rise in one-person households in developing countries: the case of the Philippines," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1-32, December.
    2. Sandra Alvear-Vega & Héctor Vargas-Garrido, 2022. "Social Determinants of the Non-Utilization of the Supplementary Feeding Program (PACAM) Aimed at Older Adults’ Nutritional Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, November.
    3. Chi-Tsun Chiu, 2019. "Living arrangements and disability-free life expectancy in the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Wei Chen & Ya Fang & Fanzhen Mao & Shichao Hao & Junze Chen & Manqiong Yuan & Yaofeng Han & Y Alicia Hong, 2015. "Assessment of Disability among the Elderly in Xiamen of China: A Representative Sample Survey of 14,292 Older Adults," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Monika Burzyńska & Tomasz Kopiec & Małgorzata Pikala, 2023. "Mortality Trends due to Falls in the Group of People in Early (65–74 Years) and Late (75+) Old Age in Poland in the Years 2000–2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-11, March.
    6. Chia-Mei Shih & Yu-Hua Wang & Li-Fan Liu & Jung-Hua Wu, 2020. "Profile of Long-Term Care Recipients Receiving Home and Community-Based Services and the Factors That Influence Utilization in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Trukeschitz, Birgit & Hajji, Assma & Kieninger, Judith & Malley, Juliette & Linnosmaa, Issmo & Forder, Julien, 2021. "Investigating factors influencing quality-of-life effects of home care services in Austria, England, and Finland: a comparative analysis," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 106222, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Albert Esteve & David S. Reher & Rocío Treviño & Pilar Zueras & Anna Turu, 2020. "Living Alone over the Life Course: Cross‐National Variations on an Emerging Issue," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 46(1), pages 169-189, March.
    9. Michel Poulain & Luc Dal & Anne Herm, 2020. "Trends in living arrangements and their impact on the mortality of older adults: Belgium 1991‒2012," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(15), pages 401-430.
    10. Josiana El Hage & Isam Shahrour & Fadi Hage Chehade & Faten Abi Farraj, 2023. "A Comprehensive Assessment of Buildings for Post-Disaster Sustainable Reconstruction: A Case Study of Beirut Port," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.
    11. De Maria, Maddalena & Tagliabue, Semira & Ausili, Davide & Vellone, Ercole & Matarese, Maria, 2020. "Perceived social support and health-related quality of life in older adults who have multiple chronic conditions and their caregivers: a dyadic analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    12. Pawinee Iamtrakul & Sararad Chayphong & Pittipol Kantavat & Yoshitsugu Hayashi & Boonserm Kijsirikul & Yuji Iwahori, 2023. "Exploring the Spatial Effects of Built Environment on Quality of Life Related Transportation by Integrating GIS and Deep Learning Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-26, February.
    13. Man Thi Hue Vo & Keiko Nakamura & Kaoruko Seino & Thang Van Vo, 2021. "Greater Risk of Negative Health Outcomes of Older Adults Living Alone in Vietnam: A Community Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, October.
    14. Zachary Zimmer & Emily Treleaven, 2020. "The Rise and Prominence of Skip‐Generation Households in Lower‐ and Middle‐Income Countries," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 46(4), pages 709-733, December.
    15. Reher, David S. & Requena, Miguel & de Santis, Gustavo & Esteve, Albert & Bacci, Massimo Livi & Padyab, Mojgan & Sandström, Glenn, 2020. "The COVID-19 pandemic in an aging world," SocArXiv bfvxt, Center for Open Science.
    16. Nattaya Prapaipanich, 2018. "A study of elderly welfare by comparing private and public retirement homes: A case study in Bangkok," Business and Economic Horizons (BEH), Prague Development Center, vol. 14(2), pages 243-255, April.
    17. Crystal Kwan & Ho Chung Tam, 2022. "“What If I Die and No One Notices?” A Qualitative Study Exploring How Living Alone and in Poverty Impacts the Health and Well-Being of Older People in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    18. Wei-Jun Jean Yeung & Adam Ka-Lok Cheung, 2015. "Living Alone," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(40), pages 1099-1112.
    19. Glenn Sandström & Lena Karlsson, 2019. "The educational gradient of living alone: A comparison among the working-age population in Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(55), pages 1645-1670.
    20. Mariusz Celiński & Mateusz Cybulski & Joanna Fiłon & Marta Muszalik & Mariusz Goniewicz & Elżbieta Krajewska-Kułak & Anna Ślifirczyk, 2021. "Analysis of Medical Management in Geriatric Patients in the Hospital Emergency Department by Example of Selected Cities with County Status in Poland: A Retrospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14572-:d:964933. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.