Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison

Aging is a global issue affecting countries including Malaysia. From an economic perspective, the government encourages senior citizens to be financially independent for as long as possible. To what extent the elderly is financially dependent is well documented but only few studies focus on an ethni...

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Main Authors: Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah, Tengku Abdul Hamid, Tengku Aizan, Masud, Jariah, Paim, Laily
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Center of Science and Education 2010
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16292/1/16292.pdf
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author Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah
Tengku Abdul Hamid, Tengku Aizan
Masud, Jariah
Paim, Laily
author_facet Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah
Tengku Abdul Hamid, Tengku Aizan
Masud, Jariah
Paim, Laily
author_sort Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah
collection UPM
description Aging is a global issue affecting countries including Malaysia. From an economic perspective, the government encourages senior citizens to be financially independent for as long as possible. To what extent the elderly is financially dependent is well documented but only few studies focus on an ethnic disparity perspective. This paper aims to identify the predictors of financial dependency among older Malaysians from the three ethnic groups. Data from an area study in Malaysia involving 806 older persons who participated in face-to-face interviews was used. Results showed that more than half of the respondents are financially independent while 44% depends on their children, sons or daughters in law, friends, neighbors or government financial assistance. Age and employment status were significant predictors of financial independence across all ethnic models. The study showed that there are different predictors of financial dependency by ethnic group and the result calls for different intervention strategies for the various ethnic elderly in achieving financial independence in old age.
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spelling upm.eprints-162922017-10-23T01:36:52Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16292/ Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah Tengku Abdul Hamid, Tengku Aizan Masud, Jariah Paim, Laily Aging is a global issue affecting countries including Malaysia. From an economic perspective, the government encourages senior citizens to be financially independent for as long as possible. To what extent the elderly is financially dependent is well documented but only few studies focus on an ethnic disparity perspective. This paper aims to identify the predictors of financial dependency among older Malaysians from the three ethnic groups. Data from an area study in Malaysia involving 806 older persons who participated in face-to-face interviews was used. Results showed that more than half of the respondents are financially independent while 44% depends on their children, sons or daughters in law, friends, neighbors or government financial assistance. Age and employment status were significant predictors of financial independence across all ethnic models. The study showed that there are different predictors of financial dependency by ethnic group and the result calls for different intervention strategies for the various ethnic elderly in achieving financial independence in old age. Canadian Center of Science and Education 2010 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16292/1/16292.pdf Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah and Tengku Abdul Hamid, Tengku Aizan and Masud, Jariah and Paim, Laily (2010) Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison. Asian Social Science, 6 (6). pp. 54-62. ISSN 1911-2017; ESSN: 1911-2025 http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ass/article/view/4878 10.5539/ass.v6n6p54
spellingShingle Chan, Benjamin Yin Fah
Tengku Abdul Hamid, Tengku Aizan
Masud, Jariah
Paim, Laily
Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison
title Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison
title_full Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison
title_fullStr Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison
title_full_unstemmed Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison
title_short Predictors of financial dependency in old age in Peninsular Malaysia: an ethnicity comparison
title_sort predictors of financial dependency in old age in peninsular malaysia an ethnicity comparison
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16292/1/16292.pdf
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