Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Determinants of success in ageing can be objective and subjective. The objective of this research was to study the socio-cultural determinants of successful ageing in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The design for the study was a cross-sectional survey with 1105 respondents drawn from a target population of 121,651. The sampling methods involved multistage cluster sampling, stratification, systematic, and availability sampling techniques while questionnaire and focus group discussions were the major instruments for data collection. Data collected were presented in tables and figures while univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were employed in the analysis. The hypotheses were tested using Chi-square, whereas logistic regression models were employed in predicting the influence of some variables on successful ageing. The results show that socio-cultural factors that determine successful ageing in Ebonyi include intact extended family, health, meeting traditional rites of passage, having and seeing children thrive, being physically active, having close personal relations, being socially active, and financial security. In conclusion, it is recommended that free medical service, financial assistance, indigenized old people’s homes, housing programmes, and specialized transportation services, and advocacy, be given the older adults in order to assist them to age successfully.