PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

 

e-ISSN 2231-8534
ISSN 0128-7702

Home / Regular Issue / JSSH Vol. 31 (1) Mar. 2023 / JSSH-8644-2022

 

Active Engagement and Health Status of Older Malaysians: Evidence from a Household Survey

Jane Kimm Lii Teh, Nai Peng Tey, Siow Li Lai and Nur Airena Aireen Azman

Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 31, Issue 1, March 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.31.1.13

Keywords: Active engagement, ageing, exercise, religious and community activities, self-rated health

Published on: 17 March 2023

Malaysia is undergoing rapid age structural shift to becoming an ageing nation by 2030 when 14% of its population will be aged 60 and over. Population ageing strains the healthcare system due to the rapid rise in non-communicable diseases and poses enormous challenges in providing social protection. Health promotion can ameliorate these twin problems through the active engagement of older adults in the labour force and social activities. This paper used data from the 2014 Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS) to study the factors associated with active engagement in social and economic activities, and the health status of older adults. The survey covered a nationally representative sample of 4,039 older Malaysians aged 60 and over. SPSS was used to perform bivariate and multivariate analyses. About one-quarter of older Malaysians are still working, and three-quarters participate in religious activities, but a small proportion is involved in NGO/community activities and regular exercise. Males are more active than females in all these activities. The majority perceived themselves to be in good or moderately good health. Active participation in social, economic, religious, and physical activities was positively associated with health. Given the relatively low level of labour force participation and social activities among older Malaysians, there is a need for intervention strategies to encourage and facilitate the active engagement of older adults to reduce their health problems and increase self-reliance for a better quality of life.

  • Amati, V., Meggiolaro, S., Rivellini, G., & Zaccarin, S. (2018). Social relations and life satisfaction: The role of friends. Genus, 74(1), 7-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-018-0032-z

  • Bengtson, V. L., & Putney, N. (2009). Handbook of theories of ageing. Springer Publishing Company.

  • Bloom, D. E., Canning, D., & Fink, G. (2010). Implications of population ageing for economic growth. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 26(4), 583-612. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/grq038

  • Boerma, T., Hosseinpoor, A. R., Verdes, E., & Chatterji, S. (2016). A global assessment of the gender gap in self-reported health with survey data from 59 countries. BMC Public Health, 16(1), Article 675. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3352-y

  • Bourassa, K. J., Memel, M., Woolverton, C., & Sbarra, D. A. (2017). Social participation predicts cognitive functioning in aging adults over time: Comparisons with physical health, depression, and physical activity. Aging & Mental Health, 21(2), 133-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1081152

  • Carmel, S. (2019). Health and well-being in late life: Gender differences worldwide. Frontiers in Medicine, 6, Article 218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2019.00218

  • Celidoni, M., Bianco, C. D., & Weber, G. (2017). Retirement and cognitive decline. A longitudinal analysis using SHARE data. Journal of Health Economics, 56, 113-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2017.09.003

  • Cheng, Y. H., Chi, I., Boey, K. W., Ko, L. S., & Chou, K. L. (2002). Self-rated economic condition and the health of elderly persons in Hong Kong. Social Science & Medicine, 55(8), 1415-1424. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(01)00271-4

  • Cislaghi, B., & Cislaghi, C. (2019). Self-rated health as a valid indicator for health-equity analyses: evidence from the Italian health interview survey. BMC Public Health, 19(1), Article 533. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6839-5

  • Cornwell, B., Schumm, L. P., Laumann, E. O., & Graber, J. (2009). Social networks in the NSHAP study: Rationale, measurement, and preliminary findings. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 64B(Suppl. 1), i47 - i55. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp042

  • Dave, D., Rashad, I., & Spasojevic, J. (2008). The effects of retirement on physical and mental health outcomes. Southern Economic Journal, 75(2), 497-523. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2325-8012.2008.tb00916.x

  • Department of Economic and Social Affairs of United Nations. (2019). World Population Ageing 2019: Highlights. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WorldPopulationAgeing2019-Highlights.pdf

  • Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2016). Population projection (revised), Malaysia, 2010-2040. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=118&bul_id=Y3kwU2tSNVFDOWp1YmtZYnhUeVBEdz09&menu_id=L0pheU43NWJwRWVSZklWdzQ4TlhUUT09

  • Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2020). Abridged life tables Malaysia, 2018-2020. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=116&bul_id=R0VPdE1mNEdRQms2S0M4M1ZsSlVEdz09&menu_id=L0pheU43NWJwRWVSZklWdzQ4TlhUUT09

  • Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2021). Vital Statistics, Malaysia, 2021. https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=165&bul_id=UDlnQ05GMittVXJWZUVDYUFDcjVTZz09&menu_id=L0pheU43NWJwRWVSZklWdzQ4TlhUUT09

  • DeSalvo, K. B., Bloser, N., Reynolds, K., He, J., & Muntner, P. (2006). Mortality prediction with a single general self-rated health question. A meta-analysis. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21(3), 267-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.00291.x

  • Dupuis, S. L., & Smale, B. J. A. (1995). An examination of relationship between psychological well-being and depression and leisure activity participation among older adults. Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure, 18(1), 67-92. https://doi.org/10.1080/07053436.1995.10715491

  • Elmagd, M. A. (2016). Benefits, need and importance of daily exercise. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health, 3(5, Part A), 22-27.

  • Evans, N., Allotey, P., Imelda, J. D., Reidpath, D. D., & Pool, R. (2018). Social support and care arrangements of older people living alone in rural Malaysia. Ageing and Society, 38(10), 2061-2081. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X17000472

  • Fan, Y., & He, D. (2022). Self-rated health, socioeconomic status and all-cause mortality in Chinese middle-aged and elderly adults. Scientific Reports, 12(1), Article 9309. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13502-9

  • Hammerman-Rozenberg, R., Maaravi, Y., Cohen, A., & Stessman, J. (2005). Working late: The impact of work after 70 on longevity, health and function. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 17, 508-513. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327419

  • Hein, H. O., Suadicani, P., & Gyntelberg, F. (1992). Physical fitness or physical activity as a predictor of ischaemic heart disease? A 17-year follow-up in the Copenhagen Male Study. Journal of Internal Medicine, 232(6), 471-479. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.1992.tb00619.x

  • Holt-Lunstad, J. (2018). Why social relationships are important for physical health: A systems approach to understanding and modifying risk and protection. Annual Review of Psychology, 69, 437-458. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-122216-011902

  • Institute for Public Health. (2020). National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019: Non-communicable diseases, healthcare demand, and health literacy—Key findings. 0 Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia. http://iku.gov.my/images/IKU/Document/REPORT/NHMS2019/Infographic_Booklet_NHMS_2019-English.pdf

  • International Labour Organization. (2020). Statistics on the working-age population and labour force. https://ilostat.ilo.org/topics/population-and-labour-force

  • Jylha, M. (2009). What is self-rated health and why does it predict mortality? Towards a unified conceptual model. Social Science & Medicine, 69(3), 307-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.05.013

  • Kadariya, S., Gautam, R., & Aro, A. R. (2019). Physical activity, mental health, and wellbeing among older adults in South and Southeast Asia: A scoping review. BioMed Research International, 2019, Article 6752182. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6752182

  • Kaleta, D., Makowiec-Dabrowska, T., & Jegier, A. (2008). Employment status and self rated health. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 21(3), 227-236. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10001-008-0023-y

  • Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 278730-278730. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730

  • Lai, S. L., & Yip, T. M. (2022). The role of older workers in population aging–economic growth nexus: Evidence from developing countries. Economic Change and Restructuring, 55, 1875-1912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10644-021-09370-4

  • Landi, F., Calvani, F., Picca, A., Tosato M., Martone, A. M., Angelo, E., Serafini, E., Bernabei, R., & Marzet, E. (2018). Impact of habitual physical activity and type of exercise on physical performance across ages in community-living people. PLOS One, 13(1), Article e0191820. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191820

  • Lee, Y., & Shinkai, S. (2003). A comparison of correlates of self-rated health and functional disability of older persons in the Far East: Japan and Korea. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 37(1), 63-76. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4943(03)00021-9

  • Lin, Y. H., Chen, H. C., Hsu, N. W., & Chou, P. (2020). Validation of global self-rated health and happiness measures among older people in the Yilan study, Taiwan. Front Public Health, 8, Article 346. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00346

  • Lisha, N. E., Martens, M., & Leventhal, A. M. (2011). Age and gender as moderators of the relationship between physical activity and alcohol use. Additive Behavior, 36(9), 933-936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.04.003

  • Lorem, G., Cook, S., Leon, D. A., Emaus, N., & Schirmer, H. (2020). Self-reported health as a predictor of mortality: A cohort study of its relation to other health measurements and observation time. Scientific Reports, 10(1), Article 4886. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61603-0

  • Lucchetti, G., Lucchetti, A. G., Badan-Neto, A. M., Peres, P. T., Peres, M. F., Moreira-Almeida, A., Gomes, C., & Koenig, H. G., (2011). Religiousness affects mental health, pain and quality of life in older people in an outpatient rehabilitation setting. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 43(4), 316-322. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-0784

  • Makizako, H., Kiyama, R., Nishimoto, D., Nishio, I., Masumitsu, T., Ikeda, Y., Hisamatsu, M., Shimizu, S., Mizuno, M., Wakamatsu, M., Inoue, N., Tabira, T., Ohshige, T., Yamashita, A., Nagano, S., & Ku-Ohl Project Team. (2021). Association between regular exercise and self-rated health and sleep quality among adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19), Article 20515. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910515

  • Månsson, N. O., & Råstam, L. (2001). Self-rated health as a predictor of disability pension and death — A prospective study of middle-aged men. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 29(2), 151-158. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948010290020201

  • Menec, V. H. (2003). The relation between everyday activities and successful aging: A 6-year longitudinal study. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(2), S74-S82. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.2.S74

  • Min, D., & Cho, E. (2018). Patterns in quality of life according to employment among the older adults: The Korean longitudinal study of aging (2008–2014). BMC Public Health, 18(1), Article 379. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5296-x

  • Minami, U., Nishi, M., Fukaya, T., Hasebe, M., Nonaka, K., Koike, T., Suzuki, H., Murayama, Y., Uchida, H., & Fujiwara, Y. (2015). Effects of the change in working status on the health of older people in Japan. PLOS One, 10(12), Article e0144069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144069

  • Mohd Jaafar, N. I., Awang, H., Mansor, N., Jani, R., & Abd Rahman, N. H. (2021). Examining withdrawal in Employee Provident Fund and its impact on savings. Ageing International, 46(1), 70-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-020-09369-8

  • Mohd Tobi, S. U., Fathi, M. S., & Amaratunga, D. (2017). Ageing in place, an overview for the elderly in Malaysia. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1891(1), Article 020101. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5005434

  • Murphy, J. G., Barnett, N. P., Goldstein, A. L., & Colby, S. M. (2007). Gender moderates the relationship between substance-free activity enjoyment and alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 21(2), 261-265. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-164x.21.2.261

  • National Population and Family Development Board. (2016). Report on Key Findings Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS5) 2014. http://familyrepository.lppkn.gov.my/index.php/database_stores/store_view_page/56/488?link=Ij9taWQ9MTg5JmtleV90eXBlXzA9ZXhhY3Qma2V5XzA9RmFtaWx5Jmdyb3VwaW5nPUltWmlYMlJoZVM1RVFWUkZMbGxGUVZJaSI%3D

  • Nishi, A., Kawachi, I., Shirai, K., Hirai, H., Jeong, S., & Kondo, K. (2012). Sex/gender and socioeconomic differences in the predictive ability of self-rated health for mortality. PLOS One, 7(1), Article e30179. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030179

  • Noone, J., Knox, A., O’Loughlin, K., McNamara, M., Bohle, P., & Mackey, M. (2018). An analysis of factors associated with older workers’ employment participation and preferences in Australia. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, Article 2524. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02524

  • Reblin, M., & Uchino, B. N. (2008). Social and emotional support and its implication for health. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 21(2), 201-205. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0b013e3282f3ad89

  • Rote, S., Hill, T. D., & Ellison, C. G. (2013). Religious attendance and loneliness in later life. Gerontologist, 53(1), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns063

  • Saffari, M., Pakpour, A. H., Naderi, M. K., Koenig, H. G., Baldacchino, D. R., & Piper, C. N. (2013). Spiritual coping, religiosity and quality of life: A study on Muslim patients undergoing haemodialysis. Nephrology (Carlton), 18(4), 269-275. https://doi.org/10.1111/nep.12041

  • Schulz, R. (2006). The encyclopedia of ageing: A-K. Springer Publishing Company.

  • Sewdas, R., Tamminga, S. J., Boot, C. R. L., van den Heuvel, S. G., de Boer, A. G., & van der Beek, A. J. (2018). Differences in self-rated health and work ability between self-employed workers and employees: Results from a prospective cohort study in the Netherlands. PLOS One, 13(11), Article e0206618. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206618

  • Shiba, K., Kondo, N., Kondo, K., & Ichiro, K. (2017). Retirement and mental health: Does social participation mitigate the association? A fixed-effects longitudinal analysis. BMC Public Health, 17, Article 526.

  • Simon, J. G., De Boer, J. B., Joung, I. M., Bosma, H., & Mackenbach, J. P. (2005). How is your health in general? A qualitative study on self-assessed health. European Journal of Public Health, 15(2), 200-208. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cki102

  • Su, Y. P., & Ferraro, K. F. (1997). Social relations and health assessments among older people: Do the effects of integration and social contributions vary cross-culturally? The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 52b(1), S27-S36. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/52B.1.S27

  • Sun, J., & Lyu, S. (2020). Social participation and urban-rural disparity in mental health among older adults in China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 399-404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.091

  • Tan, M. M., Reidpath, D. D., Ting, R. S.-K., Allotey, P., & Su, T. T. (2022). Religiousness and quality of life among older adults of different ethnic groups in Malaysia: A five-year follow-up study. Journal of Religion and Health, 61(2), 1548-1563. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01371-x

  • Tan, P. C., & Tey, N. P. (2005). PJCC—A model for community participation and active ageing in Malaysia. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 3(2), 125-131. https://doi.org/10.1300/J194v03n02_08

  • Taylor, D. (2014). Physical activity is medicine for older adults. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 90(1059), Article 26. https://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2012-131366

  • Teh, J. K. L., Tey, N. P., & Ng, S. T. (2014). Ethnic and gender differentials in non-communicable diseases and self-rated health in Malaysia. PLOS One, 9(3), Article e91328. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091328

  • Tenth Malaysia Plan, 2011-2015. (2010). Prime Minister’s Department Putrajaya. https://www.epu.gov.my/sites/default/files/2021-09/RMK10.pdf

  • Toepoel, V. (2013). Ageing, leisure, and social connectedness: How could leisure help reduce social isolation of older people? Social Indicators Research, 113(1), 355-372.

  • Uchino, B. N. (2004). Social support and physical health: Understanding the health consequences of relationships. Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.12987/yale/9780300102185.001.0001

  • Uchino, B. N., Uno, D., & Holt-Lunstad, J. (1999). Social support, physiological processes, and health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 8(5), 145-148. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00034

  • Verbrugge, L. M. (1985). Gender and health: An update on hypotheses and evidence. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26(3), 156-182. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136750

  • Verbrugge, L. M. (1989). The twain meet: Empirical explanations of sex differences in health and mortality. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 30(3), 282-304. https://doi.org/10.2307/2136961

  • Vogel, E., Ludwig, A., & Börsch-Supan, A. (2017). Aging and pension reform: Extending the retirement age and human capital formation. Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, 16(1), 81-107. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474747215000086

  • Waldron, I. (1983). Sex differences in illness incidence, prognosis and mortality: Issues and evidence. Social Science & Medicine, 17(16), 1107-1123. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(83)90004-7

  • Winstead, V., Yost, E. A., Cotten, S. R., Berkowsky, R. W., & Anderson, W. A. (2014). The impact of activity interventions on the well-being of older adults in continuing care communities. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 33(7), 888-911. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464814537701

  • World Bank. (2020). A silver lining: Productive and inclusive aging for Malaysia. The World Bank.

  • World Health Organization. (2020). Decade of healthy ageing 2020-2030. WHO. https://www.who.int/initiatives/decade-of-healthy-ageing

  • Wuorela, M., Lavonius, S., Salminen, M., Vahlberg, T., Viitanen, M., & Viikari, L. (2020). Self-rated health and objective health status as predictors of all-cause mortality among older people: a prospective study with a 5-, 10-, and 27-year follow-up. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), Article 120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01516-9

  • Zajacova, A., & Dowd, J. B. (2011). Reliability of self-rated health in US adults. American Journal of Epidemiology, 174(8), 977-983. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwr204

  • Zhang, W., & Wu, Y. Y. (2017). Individual educational attainment, neighborhood-socioeconomic contexts, and self-rated health of middle-aged and elderly Chinese: Exploring the mediating role of social engagement. Health & Place, 44, 8-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.12.006

  • Zimmer, Z., Jagger, C., Chiu, C.-T., Ofstedal, M. B., Rojo, F., & Saito, Y. (2016). Spirituality, religiosity, aging and health in global perspective: A review. SSM - Population Health, 2, 373-381. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2016.04.009

ISSN 0128-7702

e-ISSN 2231-8534

Article ID

JSSH-8644-2022

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Related Articles