Ageing in Southeast and East Asia: Family, Social Protection, Policy Challenges

10. Life Events, Stress and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults in Malaysia

190 190 Ong Fon Sim 10 LIFE EVENTS, STRESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN MALAYSIA Ong Fon Sim INTRODUCTION It is widely acknowledged that the number of elderly in Malaysia has been increasing. It is projected that by year 2020 the proportion of those aged 60 years or older will likely constitute 9.5 per cent of the total population (Department of Statistics 2000). In the past, studies on the elderly in Malaysia tended to focus on health and health care, sociological and demographic perspectives, as well as some attempts to understand active ageing and the well-being of elderly (e.g. Mohd Noor 1997, Poi 1998, Yassin 2001, Da Vanzo and Chan 1994). However, research on the effects of life events and stress on consumer behaviour in terms of how older people cope as consumers when facing life events was scarce (Ong and Md Nor 2004). The ageing processes and experiences over the life span are different for different people and people of identical age cannot be assumed to have shared the same experiences or moved through the same ageing process (Moschis 1994). Ageing and age-related behaviours are multidimensional in nature. Several studies conducted in the West reveal that people tend to make changes in their behaviour as consumers during periods of life transitions (e.g. Andreasen 1984; Price and Curasi 1996; Lee et al. 1998, 2001, Mathur et al. 2003). One of the explanations for such behavioural changes can be 190 10 Ageing_East Asia_Ch 10 1/10/08, 10:31 AM 190 191 Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Malaysia 191 linked to the perspective of stress and role transitions, and or the adjustments that individuals make in order to handle difficult situations and solve problems (Lazarus and Folkman 1984; Stone et al. 1988; Murrell et al. 1988, Mathur et al. 2003). Since major life events are usually stressful, the occurrence of such events makes demands on the individual which require adjustments in the individual’s usual behaviour patterns (Thoits 1995). Andreasen’s (1984) focused on how individuals experiencing life events undergo changes in consumer behaviour based on the concept of lifestyle changes. According to him, households may decide to change their interests and priorities in marginal or significant ways, and this leads to changes in lifestyles. In the same study he examined the relationship between life events, changes in consumption behaviour, and satisfaction with product. Several other research that examined the effects of life events on brand and store preference changes includes Lee et al. (1998 and 2001); Mathur et al. (1999 and 2003). Objectives This chapter focuses on the direct effects of life events on life satisfaction and the indirect effects of life events through stress. The specific objectives are (a) to test the direct effect of life events on life satisfaction, (b) to examine the relationship between life events experienced and coping as measured by changes in consumption-related lifestyles, (c) to test the indirect effect of life events on stress, and (d) to examine the moderating effect of self-esteem on the relationship between life events and consumption-related lifestyle changes, as well as between life events and stress. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESES Life events have been variously classified. Major events such as death of a spouse or a close family member, marriage, and a major illness or accident, may take place at various stages of our life. Some of these major events also involve role change or transition that requires further adjustments (e.g. Lee et al. 2001). Although negative events may have a stronger impact and are usually viewed as stressors, positive events are more frequently experienced compared with negative events, and could be stressful too (Reich and Zautra 1988, Block and Zautra 1981; Vinokur and Selzer 1975; Zautra and Simons 1979). Lee et al. (2001) classified life events into expected and unexpected life events. Some of the life events are age-related and hence, are to be expected while the non-normative ones are beyond expectations (Lee et al. 10 Ageing_East Asia_Ch 10 1/10/08, 10:31 AM 191 192 192 Ong Fon Sim 2001). For example, the sudden death of a spouse is a non-normative event, but retirement is a life event that is anticipated since it follows the chronology of age. Regardless of the nature of life events, such occurrences usually evoke stress, or are associated with some kind of adjustment. Life...