Psychosocial Dynamics, Health, and Quality of Life of Rural Elderly in Bengkulu

Abstract

Elderly is the final phase of human development. Although not all elderly people experience adverse events, the elderly have historically been a marginalized population, vulnerable to social isolation due to their unique biopsychosocial dynamics; thus, they are at higher risk of developing chronic diseases throughout life. In general, the physical condition of the elderly is multipathological. The psychological and psychosocial conditions of the elderly usually also begin to decline, causing dependence on others, withdrawal from society, and even depression. This is important to note because in many cases, this experience marks the beginning of a decline in health and quality of life. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. The subjects of the study were the elderly in Bengkulu. The three main tools used were participant observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The Indonesian WHOQOL-BREF was also used to measure the quality of life of the elderly. The results showed that there was a complex interaction between psychological, social, and biological factors in the health and quality of life of the elderly. Psychosocial processes affect social support and personal control over one's life, and can lead to a variety of negative outcomes, such as stress, depression, anxiety, isolation, insecurity, and hostility. Stressful life events such as marital and financial difficulties worsen overall outcomes. Psychosocial intervention techniques are needed in managing the psychosocial consequences of these physical and psychological disorders. Thus, it is important to pay more attention to behavioral, psychological, and social aspects in addition to medical care, especially in rural areas where available resources are limited.