Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

Social Support and Coping Strategies among Swedish and Sudanese Older Persons

Eltayeb W, Weitner S, Ericsson K, Theorell T and Ljunggren G

Sweden and Sudan represent different forms of family and societal structures. Nevertheless, older persons in either country have to develop coping strategies in order to be able to handle their life. Their coping patterns interact with the family and other close persons. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of social support and coping strategies among older persons in Sweden and Sudan. A cross-cultural and semi-structured interview study was performed with 85 older persons (26% men) aged 68– 102 years, living in their own homes, receiving some home services in Stockholm, Sweden. Interviews were also conducted with 42 older persons (24% men) aged 60-85 years living in extended families in an outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan. The subjects were asked to answer a standard social support questionnaire including availability of attachment (AVAT) and social interaction (AVSI). Their situation was also explored by means of the “coping wheel”. This was used in three forms (participant activities in the past, present, and in the future). Scores for perceived “control” and “emotion” were calculated on the basis of all the individual activities reported in the "wheel." To test the difference between the two groups with regard to coping strategies, descriptive statistics and Chisquare tests were applied. Multivariate one-way analysis of variance was used to test the differences between Swedish and Sudanese older persons in AVSI, and AVAT, adjusting for age and gender. A content analysis was performed for the coping activities in the past, at present and in the future. As content analysis has no single form or stage, the answers were processed and analyzed without pre-conceptions. The “control” score both in the past and in the future was significantly higher in the Sudanese sample while the present “emotion” score was significantly higher (more positive) in the Swedish sample. Our results suggest that traditional norms and culture have an effect on social support as well as coping strategies for older persons. The family plays a very important role in enhancing psychosocial wellbeing. It seems that Swedish older persons use much of their time for hobbies and leisure activities, whereas the Sudanese older persons seem to be struggling for survival.