Basic Psychological Need Fulfilment and Well-being Indicators of Older Adults in Indians Old Age Homes

Abstract

The purpose of this research endeavour was to study the well-being of older adults residing in Indian old age homes (OAH). To this end, three studies were conducted that focused on different aspects. Study 1 took a quantitative approach and looked at the basic psychological need fulfilment of the target population; the relation between basic psychological needs - Autonomy, Relatedness, Competency and well-being indicators - Subjective well-being, Psychological well-being, Quality of Life as well as the mediating role of Self-esteem and the moderating role of demographic variables like Gender, Age, Economic status, Education and Duration of stay in OAH. The sample consisted of 252 individuals residing in OAH in Pune and Guwahati. Linear regression and Process Macro by Hayes were used to analyse the findings. It was found that the basic psychological need fulfilment of older Indians residing in OAH was above average; all basic psychological needs were significant predictors of the well-being indicators; self-esteem mediated the relation between all basic psychological needs and well-being indicators; and the demographic variables of Gender, Age, Economic status, Education and Duration of stay in OAH moderated the relation between some of the basic psychological needs and well-being indicators. Study 2 was a qualitative study that looked at the psychosocial problems faced by residents in old age homes as well as important aspects that might influence well-being aside from the basic psychological needs. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the interviews of ten participants. Psychosocial problems included age, death and finance related anxiety; lack of control, autonomy and purpose; interpersonal conflicts and loneliness. Socio-cultural aspects like Faith and Religion practices were also highlighted as important by the residents themselves. Study 3 was an intervention study that tried to ascertain if the well-being of residents in OAH could be improved by simple activities based on established gratitude-focused positive psychological interventions. Thirty-two residents from the same OAH underwent a week-long gratitude programme that involved a sequence of gratitude-based activities like Counting Blessings, Three Good Things and the Gratitude Letter/Visit. Paired samples t-test of the pre-post scores showed a significant improvement in Subjective and Psychological Well-being scores indicating that the gratitude intervention was successful in improving well-being.