Productive Aging and Psychological Well-being of Older Adults in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Promoting long and productive lives is one of the 14 grand challenges for social work to accomplish. Existing literature suggests that productive aging (PA) could be a protective factor for overall health and well-being in later life. Studying PA and relevant issues is critical to facilitating an age-friendly society where older adults remain comfortable and contribute significantly to the community. Researching patterns and factors that influence PA can help researchers and other stakeholders understand the mechanism of PA in older adults and its multifaceted impact on diverse outcomes, including psychological well-being (PWB). Having multiple implications, research has yet to investigate the nature of PA and its effect on the PWB of older adults in rural Bangladesh. Research Design: Guided by gaps in the literature, this dissertation study employed a multi-method design that included both qualitative and quantitative methods. Two studies were conducted concurrently to explore the comprehensive dimensions of PA and its effect on the PWB of older adults in rural areas under the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. In the qualitative part, a focused ethnographic study explored the perceptions, patterns, factors, opportunities, challenges, and overall impact of PA on PWB by utilizing in-depth interviews. Using a cross-sectional design, the quantitative part examined the association between factors such as socio-demographic or individual, health, social network, policy, and different types of PA engagements among 240 participants. The quantitative part examined the association between factors such as socio-demographic or individual, health, social network, policy, and different types of PA engagements paid or income-generating works, non-financial activities, caregiving, and volunteering) and the PWB outcome of older adults in rural Bangladesh. Findings: The qualitative study provided comprehensive findings regarding PA in rural areas of Bangladesh that included perceptions, patterns, attitudes, factors, challenges, benefits, and impact on the PWB of older adults. Under the six major themes, the result shows that PA is necessary for older adults in rural Bangladesh. Based on cultural norms, older adults feel obligated to and, for the most part, want to contribute to their families and communities. Gender norms, age, physical health, stereotypes, less social support, etc., influence the patterns and options for PA. Findings also showed that PA benefits the health and overall well-being of older adults in the challenging socio-economic contexts of rural Bangladesh. The quantitative results show that different social demographic, health, social network, and policy-related factors are statistically associated with the PA engagements of older adults. Further, the study utilized multiple linear regression models to test the effect of PA activities on PWB outcomes. The results show that paid work and volunteering had a significant statistical association with the PWB, whereas non-financial activities and caregiving had no significant association. Contributions: Recognizing the challenges related to the methodologies during the global pandemic, the two distinct studies of this dissertation contribute to aging research, policies, and practices to support marginalized and underprivileged older adults in rural Bangladesh and to promote their productive contributions and PWB. Further, this study provides insights into PA and mental health research and education in Bangladesh, South Asia, and developing countries worldwide. The findings would inform professionals, researchers, academics, policymakers, and individuals about the issues related to PA and its impact on PWB well-being of vulnerable older adults in rural settings while addressing the challenges of population aging locally and globally.