The Scientific World Journal / 2014 / Article / Tab 3 / Research Article
Family Support and Loneliness among Older Persons in Multiethnic Malaysia Table 3 Percentage distribution of respondents by levels of loneliness, according to selected sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, health and physical condition, and various forms of family support and community engagement (
).
Variables/categories Not lonely Sometimes lonely Always lonely Total Age group** 60s 49.5 31.5 19.1 100 1154 70s 44.2 33.5 22.4 100 523 80s+ 28.9 38.6 32.5 100 114 Sex** Male 54.6 28.9 16.5 100 710 Female 41.4 34.9 23.8 100 1081 Ethnic group** Malay 41.2 37.3 21.5 100 814 Chinese 68.0 23.4 8.6 100 440 Indian 57.1 24.7 18.2 100 77 Indigenous 34.1 33.9 32.0 100 460 Marital status** Currently married 54.7 30.6 14.7 100 945 Widowed/divorced 37.6 34.6 27.8 100 846 Residence** Urban 56.8 28.9 14.3 100 771 Rural 38.9 35.2 25.9 100 1020 Education level** No schooling 38.1 34.1 27.8 100 939 Primary level 52.5 33.4 14.1 100 653 Secondary+ 67.3 22.1 10.6 100 199 Work status Still working 49.3 30.6 20.0 100 454 Not working 45.7 33.1 21.2 100 1337 Sources of income** None 37.6 35.6 26.8 100 447 1-2 sources 47.1 32.2 20.7 100 942 3+ sources 55.5 29.9 14.7 100 402 Illnesses** None 55.3 29.6 15.1 100 483 1 illness 44.4 31.7 23.9 100 599 2+ illnesses 42.6 35.1 22.3 100 709 Physical limitations** None 51.4 30.4 18.1 100 1207 1-2 limitations 37.5 36.7 25.8 100 349 3+ limitations 35.3 37.0 27.7 100 235 Monetary support** Yes 50.5 32.0 17.4 100 986 No 41.9 33.0 25.1 100 805 Paying bills* Yes 48.6 33.9 17.5 100 954 No 44.3 30.9 24.7 100 837 Food/other necessities Yes 47.2 33.2 19.5 100 1188 No 45.4 31.0 23.5 100 603 Housework* Yes 46.6 34.8 18.6 100 1102 No 46.7 28.7 24.5 100 689 Coresidence** Yes 50.3 33.1 16.6 100 1124 No 40.5 31.6 27.9 100 659 Religion activities Yes 46.6 34.0 19.4 100 977 No 46.5 30.9 22.6 100 810 Leisure activities Yes 46.5 33.1 20.4 100 824 No 46.7 32.0 21.3 100 967
Note: ** ; * .