Well-being in the age of COVID-19: The role of social support

Abstract

AbstractInvestigating the impact of social support on elderly well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial, given its absorptive potential in mitigating the adverse effects of distressful circumstances. This study examines the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and social support on the well-being of older adults (aged 50+) in Ghana. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey with a quantitative approach to collect data from 400 older adults residing in the Accra and Kumasi metropolitan areas. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit the participants. Categorical regression analysis was employed to estimate the associations between socio-demographic factors, social support dimensions, and the well-being of older adults. Of the eleven variables used, six were significant predictors of well-being. In their order of importance, enacted social support (β = 0.496), social integration (β = 0.252), perceived social support (β = 0.149), educational level (β = 0.121), gender (β = 0.074), and employment status (β = -0.017) were the predictors of well-being among the sample. The strongest and weakest predictive factors of well-being within the sample are enacted social support and employment status, respectively. The study emphasizes that focus should not solely be on socio-demographic factors when addressing the well-being of older adults during distressful situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, it highlights the paramountcy or primacy of social support in mitigating the harmful impact of the pandemic on their well-being. Interventions should prioritize strengthening older individuals’ access to diverse social support options for enhanced well-being.

Keywords

• well-being
• COVID-19
• social support
• older adults
• Ghana