Befriending’s impact on the psychological well-being of single-dwelling elderly
This paper studies how befriending, as one of the measures commissioned by the state to combat elderly social isolation and loneliness, impacts the psychological well-being of the elderly. Psychological well-being, in this context, is assessed using Berkman’s model on how social networks impact h...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Final Year Project |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71621 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | This paper studies how befriending, as one of the measures commissioned by the state to combat
elderly social isolation and loneliness, impacts the psychological well-being of the elderly.
Psychological well-being, in this context, is assessed using Berkman’s model on how social
networks impact health through a cascading process, with focus placed on the psychological
pathways of self-efficacy, coping effectiveness and distress (Berkman et al., 2000).
A total of twelve semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with elderly users of
befriending services, aged 65 and above, from January to February 2017. Participants are sourced
through Lion Befrienders Service Association.
Results show that befriending contributes to improving elderly’s psychological well-being through
enhancing the psychological pathways of coping effectiveness while reducing distress to elderly.
However, the impact on improving the self-efficacy of elderly was less significant. Three
subthemes of sense of security, meaningful and reciprocal relationships and connectedness
emerged from the analysis. |
|---|