THE INFLUENCE OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL VARIABLES ON PERCEPTION OF AGEING AMONG TEACHERS

 

ABSTRACT
Ageing comes with some indicators including decline in functions of the organs which take its
toll virtually on every aspect of wellbeing of the ageing person particularly if this important
and inevitable phase of life is not prepared for. Right perception of the concept of ageing is
no doubt, the very first and perhaps, most important step towards healthy ageing. Positive
perception of ageing by teachers will improve the standard of most ageing teachers and also
put them in the right frame of mind as they age. The present study examined the Influence of
Psycho-social Variables on Perception of Ageing among Teachers in Anambra and AkwaIbom states. Activity, Functionalist and Psycho-social theory of personality guided the study.
The sample comprised four hundred and two teachers (402) in Anambra state and five
hundred and three (503) teachers in Akwa-Ibom state selected through multi-stage sampling
technique. Five research instruments namely Psycho-social Variables on Perception of
Ageing Questionnaire (PSVPAQ); Brief Ageing Perception Questionnaire (B-APQ); Selfesteem Scale (SES); Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SRAS) and Emotional Adjustment Bank (EAB)
were used to collect data. Seven hypotheses were tested. Descriptive statistics, Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA), Independent t-test, Multiple Regression and Pearson Product Moment
Correlation were used for data analyses. The study confirmed that there was significant
difference due to gender and state of origin in the perception of ageing. It was also shown
that there was significant difference due to state of origin in ageing stereotypes. There was
significant composite influence of societal roles, ageing stereotypes and socio-economic
status on perception of ageing. Perception of ageing had significant influence on emotional
adjustment. Perception of ageing significantly influenced the self-esteem of teachers. Positive
perception of ageing had significant impact on the health status of teachers. Finally, the
study showed that there was significant difference due to gender and state of origin in ageing
anxiety. It was recommended among others that there is need for welfare as well as
awareness packages for teachers to have healthy perception of ageing and adequately
prepare for such. Teachers’ gratuity and pension should be paid as soon as they disengage
from service to enable them move into other areas of interest. Seminars should be organized
for teachers periodically on issues of ageing to prepare their mind as they advance in
chronological years.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background to the Study
Ageing and the ageing process are aspects of human experiences which begin the moment a
person is born. Each day that passes makes a person one day older. The older a person
becomes the nearer the person moves to that stage of life in which everything in the person’s
makeup and functions decline. Ageing is an important phase of life as it signals our gradual
final exit from the planet earth. Ageing from this perspective is seen as ongoing, starting at
conception and ending with death. It occupies the total life span, not merely the final stage of
life. Kart and Kinney (2005) confirmed that without the knowledge and understanding of the
entire life span, it may be difficult to understand the events of anyone’s life phase. In this
sense, ageing is studied to learn not only about the final phase of life, but also about youth
and middle years as these stages determine to a large extent how people age and their
perception of ageing.
According to Olajide and Ayantunji (2016) most people are frightened and not comfortable to
hear that they are ageing or growing old. This is simply because it tends to suggest
advancement in age, decline in the function of the organs of the body, and loss of flexibility,
decline in hearing, vision and lessen of muscular strength, flexibility of the skin and blood
vessels, appearance of wrinkles on the skin, etc. Osunde and Obiunu (2005) asserted that all
the negative indicators which show decline in the functions of the body organs due to ageing
make many adults to feel uncomfortable to be associated with ageing. This feeling affects
many people psychologically and socially and this is experienced through fear and anxiety
over ageing and death, emotionally traumatized due to physical and psychological changes

 


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