FAMILY SOCIAL SUPPORT AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AS DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG THE AGED IN OYO NORTH, NIGERIA

The purpose of this study was to investigate into the family social support and socio-economic status as determinants of quality of life among the aged in Oyo North, Nigeria. Descriptive research design of ex-post- facto type was used in the study. One hundred and sixty (160) respondents were selected from selected schools in Oyo North senatorial District Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The respondents were measured with relevant adopted standardized scale and the data obtained was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression statistical analysis. Three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that there was quality of life among aged is significantly correlated with family social support (r = .838; p<.05) and socio-economic status (r= .726; p<.05). The independent variables (family social support and socio-economic status) when pulled together have significant effects on the quality of life among aged (R (adjusted) =.928 & R 2 (adjusted) =.859) and each of the independent variables made a significant contribution to the prediction of quality of life among aged. In term of magnitude of contribution, socio-economic status made the most significant contribution (Beta= .900; t= 12.438; P<0.05) to the prediction. Other variables made significant contributions in the following order: psychological wellbeing (Beta= .092; t= 2.213; P<0.05) and family social support (Beta= .085; t= 1.036; P<0.05). In view of these findings, the study stressed that working aged is to be trained on how to improve their family social support during and after the working age, because their level of family social support has a significant influence on the quality of life, Counselling psychologists should intensify their effort to organize seminars/conferences on the implications of these factors (e.g family social support and socio-economic status among others) on the quality of life among aged in the society.