Understanding intergenerational support and how it shapes older adults’ health and well-being in Ghana
In the face of population ageing and limited public support, intergenerational family support remains a central determinant of the well-being of the increasing number older Ghanaians. Yet, research that increases understanding of intergenerational family support for older Ghanaians and how it informs their well-being has been scanty.
Therefore, this thesis sought to improve understanding of intergenerational support for older Ghanaians and how it informs their health and subjective well-being. It adopted an interdisciplinary and a multi-method (i.e., systematic review, quantitative longitudinal study, and qualitative study) approach to enable a comprehensive understanding of intergenerational family support and how it shapes older adults’ health and well-being.
The findings show that intergenerational family support for older Ghanaians declined from 45.4% to 26.9% from 2007-2015 and socio-demographics such as advanced age, being a woman, living alone, high socio-economic status, and not working were the strongest determinants of receiving support relative to health status among older Ghanaians. It also highlights how inner peace, a low-arousal positive affect, is central to the good life in older adulthood in rural Ghana.
Furthermore, it demonstrates that providing older Ghanaians intergenerational family support (material and practical support, frequent contact, love and emotional closeness, filial obligations, respect and harmonious family living) positively shapes their health and well-being.
In the context of changing familial norms, the findings emphasize the need to promote culturally-sensitive intergenerational family support for older Ghanaians and reforming public support programs to address old-age poverty for improving older Ghanaians’ health and well-being.