A Comparative Study to Assess Subjective Well-Being among Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Senior Citizens of Selected Areas of Navi Mumbai

Abstract

Introduction: Senior citizens are crucial in Indian society, yet abandonment by families is prevalent, leading many to seek refuge in old age homes. They face physical and mental health challenges, highlighting the need for our responsibility to support them and provide necessary care. Assessing subjective well-being can aid in understanding their emotions and ensuring their overall welfare.

Methodology: The study aimed to assess subjective well-being among institutionalized and non-institutionalized senior citizens in Navi Mumbai, comparing their well-being and examining its association with demographic variables. Employing a quantitative, descriptive research approach, data was collected from 196 seniors using a non-probability purposive sampling method. Measures included a socio-demographic profile and the SUBI tool, comprising 40 questions across 11 factors. Ethical clearance was obtained, and Cronbach’s alpha tests indicated tool reliability scores of 0.775 for institutionalized and 0.915 for non-institutionalized samples, ensuring robustness in assessing well-being among both groups.

Result: Section II analyzes subjective well-being among institutionalized senior citizens, revealing that 55.1% exhibit good subjective well-being, while 44.9% show moderate subjective well-being. Section III examines non-institutionalized senior citizens, where 84.7% report good subjective well-being and 15.3% indicate moderate subjective well-being. Section IV compares subjective well-being between the two groups, demonstrating a significant difference (p value 0.000) in mean scores. Institutionalized seniors scored an average of 81.08, whereas non-institutionalized seniors scored higher at 93.18, indicating superior subjective well-being. Section V explores the association between subjective well-being and demographic variables among institutionalized seniors, revealing associations with all variables except marital status, history of previous admissions, family income, and number of children. Section VI assesses non-institutionalized seniors, highlighting associations with all variables except gender, earlier occupation, residential status, and financial sources.

Conclusion: Ensuring the well-being of senior citizens, addressing both physical and mental health needs, is crucial amid societal challenges like abandonment, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive care and support systems.