SOCIALLY PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES AND SUBJECTIVE WELLBEING AMONG RURAL PERAK ELDERLY

Abstract

The uncertain knowledge on level of wellbeing among older adults has attracted an increasing number of public, political and scientific attentions. Wellbeing has been described as a state of equilibrium or balance that can be affected by life events or challenges. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between socially productive activities and subjective wellbeing among rural elderly in Perak. A descriptive research methodology was adopted for this research. A broad range of productive factors (such as voluntarism and paid work) and measures of wellbeing (such as self-rated health and life satisfaction) shall be analysing in t-test and Pearson correlation analysis. Information needed are obtained sing a cross-sectional design method across rural districts in Perak. Questionnaires survey was distributed to 480 older adults age from 50 t0 75+. This paper found out that there are no significant different between paid work and self-rated health and life satisfaction, whereas there are significant relationship between voluntarism and self-rated health and life satisfaction. The result from this research shall provide provision for the idea that engaging in voluntarism is advantageous to elderly well-being.