Psychosocial Family Support and the Quality of Life among Older Persons in Imo State, Nigeria

In the context of a fast-rising ageing population in Imo state, understanding the factors that enhance the quality of life for older individuals has never been more crucial than now. This study investigates the interplay between psychosocial family support and the quality of life among older persons in Imo State, Nigeria. Four research objectives were generated to guide the study. A concurrent triangulation mixed method research design involving a survey and focused group discussion was adopted for the study. The population of the study covered older persons 65 years and above in non-institutional homes in Imo State Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select participants for the study. The sample size for the study was made up of 534 participants comprising 518 older persons for a survey and another 16 older persons for the Focused Group Discussion. Two sets of instruments were used for the study: An interview guide for focus group discussions, and a set of questionnaires titled, ‘Psycho-Social Family Support & Quality of Life Questionnaire. The instruments were validated by experts and tested for reliability. The research questions were answered using means and standard deviation, while multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. Results from the study revealed a declining quality of life for older persons in Imo State. Also, the study found that social and psych-emotional family support significantly contributes to the quality of life of older persons in Imo State. It was recommended, among others that government should enact comprehensive legislation specifically tailored to address the needs and rights of older persons.