Socio-cultural status of elderly women in rural setting in hisar District
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Date
2004
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The present study was conducted in four villages of Hisar district of Haryana
state. The total sample size was 300 respondents; seventy-five from each village. The
study was conducted on elderly female above the age of 55 years, living in different
living arrangement. A pre-tested interview schedule was used for data collection. The
study revealed four type of living arrangement commonly existed among elderly female
and those were, living alone, living with spouse, living with family and living with family
without spouse. Majority of the respondents (45.67%) were residing with whole family,
that is with spouse and children. They were getting financial support by their children
(77.67%) residing with them and only 48.33 per cent were getting pension. Among
different living arrangement, majority of the elderly, who were living alone (63.33%)
“dislike to live with their daughter’s family”, where as 66.66 per cent of elderly, living
with spouse ‘to prevent conflict with daughter-in-law”. “To share the feelings and
knowledge with the family members” was the reason given by the majority of elderly
living with family (80.02%) and “need affectionate care during old age” was the reason
of majority of elderly widow to live with children (77.54%).
Majority of the elderly women had monthly income upto Rs. 700/-, whereas 96.67 per
cent of them were landless large proportion of elderly female (63.67%) were found to be
in medium health status category. The common disease reported by the elderly was
cough and cold (90.0%). In case of type of sleep 30.33 per cent of elderly female was
suffering from disturbed sleep and majority of them were living alone.
The elderly female (56.67%) were participating in domestic activities and their
free time was spent in chatting (63.0%) with their age-mates.
To live a happy married life was the goal framed by elderly women (51.67%) in
their earlier days of life which changed to healthy living (78.67%); and religious believes
was the value of majority of elderly female (47.33%). Their involvement in decision
making was mostly in genuine problems only (42.67%). Life satisfaction in relation to
health, socio-economic and psychological status was interrelated and associated with
age, living arrangement and marital status. Social satisfaction was found to be
associated with living arrangement, (2 = 5.53), age (2 = 4.56), economic satisfaction (2
= 13.67) and psychological satisfaction (2 = 36.94). Health status was found to be
associated with living arrangement (2 = 52.63), social satisfaction (2 = 30.67), age (2 =
25.42), economic status (2 = 36.19) and psychological satisfaction (2 = 32.31).
Economic status was found to be associated with age (2 = 33.75), marital status (2 =
53.21), living arrangement (2 = 19.49).