Participation Of Older Persons In The Decision-Making Processes And Their Subjective Well-Being – A Study In The Greater Accra Region Of Ghana

Abstract

Studies have identified the positive relationship between participation in decision-making and general well-being of individuals. The purpose of this study, which was undertaken in the Greater Accra Region, is to examine the contribution of participation of older persons in the decision-making process to their subjective well-being. The study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed-method design. The qualitative approach was firstly carried out to identify and understand the main issues of interest. Purposive sampling technique was used to engage the following: older persons, opinion leaders, traditional leaders and officials of relevant state agencies from the district to the national level, in series of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Subsequently, a multi-stage random sampling technique, including simple random sampling, systematic sampling and cluster sampling were employed to select 389 respondents in eight communities for the quantitative phase of the study. Multiple linear regression technique was employed to identify the relationship between variables of participation in decision-making and subjective well-being. The findings of both the qualitative and quantitative phases of the study revealed that the family and community provided better opportunities for older persons to participate in the decision-making process. The specific opportunities for the purpose included occupation of traditional leadership positions and performance of traditional and religious rites for the community, backed by the dominant belief and value systems of the community. Family and community conflicts, poverty and gender discrimination against women were major limitations for the participation of older persons in the decision-making process. The findings confirmed a positive relationship between some variables of participation in the decision-making process and subjective well-being of older persons. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between average monthly income, one of the proxies for participation in decision-making and subjective well-being of older persons. This suggests that having adequate income enhanced participation in decision-making – which eventually improved subjective well-being of the older person. It was therefore recommended that efforts at increasing coverage of both social insurance and social assistance schemes in the country should be intensified to ensure regular and sustainable income to older persons. Based on the identified observation that participation in decision-making by older persons generally enhances their subjective well-being, it is also recommended that relevant existing legislative and policy instruments should be amended to create increased opportunities for older persons to fully and effectively participate in the decision-making process from the community to the national level. It also came out of the study that women were sometimes discriminated against in the decision-making process mainly due to unfavourable socio-cultural environment. It is therefore suggested that policy attention should be directed at addressing the unfavourable environment faced by women in the decision-making process to ensure that no one is left behind in the process.