Reflections on the Quality of Life of Older People in South Africa Using Data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey

Pranitha Maharaj, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Benjamin Roberts, Human Science Research Council

Background: The focus of this paper is on exploring the patterns and determinants of wellbeing among older people in South Africa. Methods: The study makes use of pooled from nine consecutive annual survey rounds of the South African Attitudes Survey conducted between 2009 and 2017. The analysis focuses on the nature, trends and socio-demographic cleavages in patterns of personal wellbeing among 5,246 South Africans aged 60 years and older using the eight-item Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). Results: Multivariate analysis suggests that significant differences in PWI scores exist among older persons in the country, especially along class lines. The self-rated poor and those living in an informal urban settlement reported lower PWI scores. Even after controlling for these factors, clear racial differences in PWI continue to exist, with older black African adults reporting lower scores on average than white adults. Conclusion: Ageing issues need to be effectively integrated into programmatic and policy interventions.