The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand

Purpose - Several studies revealed the importance of older persons’ contribution to society. The enhancement of their potential to engage in civic activities should be encouraged. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors associated with their civic engagement potential. Design/methodology...

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Main Authors: Kanchana Tangchonlatip, Aphichat Chamratrithirong, Aksarapak Lucktong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University 2019-09-01
Series:Journal of Health Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHR-08-2018-0083/full/pdf?title=the-potential-for-civic-engagement-of-older-persons-in-the-ageing-society-of-thailand
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author Kanchana Tangchonlatip
Aphichat Chamratrithirong
Aksarapak Lucktong
author_facet Kanchana Tangchonlatip
Aphichat Chamratrithirong
Aksarapak Lucktong
author_sort Kanchana Tangchonlatip
collection DOAJ
description Purpose - Several studies revealed the importance of older persons’ contribution to society. The enhancement of their potential to engage in civic activities should be encouraged. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors associated with their civic engagement potential. Design/methodology/approach - Data are from Thailand’s National Survey of Older Persons conducted by the National Statistical Office in 2011. A sample of 24,433 persons aged 60 years or older was analyzed to assess their engagement in four community activities. The data were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Findings - This study found that the readiness and willingness to engage in socially productive activities of Thai older persons ranged from 7 to 23 percent depending on type of activities. The factors of ageing health, confidence in their family’s ability to assist them, and satisfaction with government services were significantly associated with their readiness and willingness to engage in socially productive activities. Inadequacy of income was not found to be an obstructing factor toward their readiness and willingness to engage in civic life in general, it inhibited only the sharing of knowledge and skills with others. Originality/value - The findings reflect the impact of internal constraining factors and external enhancing factors on engagement of Thai older persons in civic activities. Policy implications on the role of the government to promote active ageing are discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-896dfe81f011430eafa411d942c69d752023-02-02T04:34:16ZengCollege of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn UniversityJournal of Health Research0857-44212586-940X2019-09-0133538639710.1108/JHR-08-2018-0083630208The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of ThailandKanchana Tangchonlatip0Aphichat Chamratrithirong1Aksarapak Lucktong2Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, ThailandInstitute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, ThailandSchool of Liberal Arts, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, ThailandPurpose - Several studies revealed the importance of older persons’ contribution to society. The enhancement of their potential to engage in civic activities should be encouraged. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors associated with their civic engagement potential. Design/methodology/approach - Data are from Thailand’s National Survey of Older Persons conducted by the National Statistical Office in 2011. A sample of 24,433 persons aged 60 years or older was analyzed to assess their engagement in four community activities. The data were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Findings - This study found that the readiness and willingness to engage in socially productive activities of Thai older persons ranged from 7 to 23 percent depending on type of activities. The factors of ageing health, confidence in their family’s ability to assist them, and satisfaction with government services were significantly associated with their readiness and willingness to engage in socially productive activities. Inadequacy of income was not found to be an obstructing factor toward their readiness and willingness to engage in civic life in general, it inhibited only the sharing of knowledge and skills with others. Originality/value - The findings reflect the impact of internal constraining factors and external enhancing factors on engagement of Thai older persons in civic activities. Policy implications on the role of the government to promote active ageing are discussed.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHR-08-2018-0083/full/pdf?title=the-potential-for-civic-engagement-of-older-persons-in-the-ageing-society-of-thailandwell-beingolder personscivic engagementvolunteeringageing society
spellingShingle Kanchana Tangchonlatip
Aphichat Chamratrithirong
Aksarapak Lucktong
The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand
Journal of Health Research
well-being
older persons
civic engagement
volunteering
ageing society
title The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand
title_full The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand
title_fullStr The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand
title_full_unstemmed The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand
title_short The potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of Thailand
title_sort potential for civic engagement of older persons in the ageing society of thailand
topic well-being
older persons
civic engagement
volunteering
ageing society
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JHR-08-2018-0083/full/pdf?title=the-potential-for-civic-engagement-of-older-persons-in-the-ageing-society-of-thailand
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