Social Support, Active Ageing Perception and Practices among Educational Staff in the Primary Educational Service, Nakhon-Si-Thammarat Province, Southern Thailand

Abstract

The phenomenon of an ageing population coupled with diminishing birth rates has given rise to an increasingly aged workforce in numerous nations. The undertaking to extend the working age beyond retirement holds great significance and poses formidable challenges in the fostering of readiness for active ageing among individuals within the age cohort of 45–59. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess WHO’s active ageing perception and practices and the social support of the educational personnel in the government sector of Nakhon-Si-Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. Data were collected through a multi-stage random sampling of 271 participants between October and November 2021. Descriptive statistics and point-biserial analyses were used to examine the correlations between the variables. The study participants consisted predominantly of females (81.2%), with an average age of 50.4 years (SD 4.3). The majority of the participants were married (56.5%) and had obtained a bachelor’s degree (78.2%). Most of the participants had not been diagnosed with noncommunicable diseases (52.0%) and had a good level of active ageing perception (95.9%), a moderate level of practice (68.6%), and a good level of social support (90.4%). Extra income and social support were correlated with practices at a low level (r = 0.252; p-value < 0.001 and r = 0.214; p-value < 0.001, respectively). In summary, the maintenance of a stable income emerged as a compelling incentive to engage in active ageing initiatives. The proactive promotion of active ageing practices among educational staff is of the utmost significance to the Thai government, particularly in the context of population ageing, with the anticipation of heightened awareness and backing from both families and educational institutions.

1. Introduction

Dealing with today’s ageing society is important and challenging due to the increasing size of the population; the increasing size has resulted in a population that is ageing continuously and rapidly. In 2019, the number of people aged 60 and over rose to one billion. This number will increase to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050 (World Health Organization (WHO) 2022). The ageing population and declining birth rates have resulted in an ageing workforce, leading to a shortage of skilled workers and to potential labor market constraints. The increasing number of elderly people affects the economy and society of a country due to a decrease in the activity and productivity of the elderly. European countries have made policies in the past few decades to increase the participation of older workers in the labor market through financial incentives (Hess et al. 2021). Increasing the retirement age to 65 years is standard, and many countries plan to extend it to 67 years (Cylus et al. 2019). Thus, older workers are now obliged to prolong their participation in the labor market (Stenholm and Vahtera 2017). However, health problems in older age can significantly restrict labor force participation, which can limit the effectiveness of this policy as a solution to population ageing (Veras and Oliveira 2018). If older workers have health problems that limit their ability to continue working, raising the retirement age may not effectively address population ageing. Maintaining the health and productivity of older workers is therefore important for the success of policies aimed at extending working lives and addressing population ageing. Moreover, maintaining good health in older age is also important for individuals as it allows them to continue participating in the labor force, to maintain their standard of living, and to support their well-being in later life. The paramount challenge associated with extending the statutory retirement age of older workers pertains to the adoption of timely measures that should aim to promote active ageing among the cohort aged 45–59 as this is the early stage of ageing preparedness (Bosnes et al. 2019).

The first definition of the concept of active ageing given by the World Health Organization (WHO) was ‘…the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age…’ (World Health Organization (WHO) 2002); this was further updated in the 2010s (International Longevity Centre 2015). Active ageing is based on the optimization of four key domains or ‘pillars’: health, participation, security, and lifelong learning (International Longevity Centre 2015). Active ageing can therefore be defined as a process that leads to the goal of extending working life (Wiktorowicz 2018). Furthermore, there exist several determinants that have been identified as crucial for the promotion of active ageing in communities. These determinants include access to healthcare services and resources, social support networks, engagement in physical activity and exercise, consumption of a nutritious diet, and access to education and lifelong learning; these lead to social engagement and to improved cognitive function in older adults. The creation of age-friendly environments can also be pivotal in enabling older adults to remain active and engaged in their communities (Lindsay Smith et al. 2017; Paredes-Carbonell et al. 2021; Ioana et al. 2020).

In the year 2021, the population of Thailand stood at approximately 66.7 million individuals. Over the years, Thailand has witnessed a substantial surge in its elderly population. Half a century ago, the number of elderly individuals in Thailand was below the 2 million mark. However, by 2021 this figure had escalated to 12.5 million. Consequently, Thailand had already transitioned into an aged society by 2022, and the projections suggest that it will further evolve into a super-aged society akin to that of Japan, with the population aged 60 and above expected to constitute approximately 28% of the total population by the year 2031 (Department of Older Persons 2021). The government must prepare for the ageing population by creating a suitable living environment, promoting financial planning and health after retirement, developing income stability for an ageing society, providing universal welfare, and promoting careers; in particular, it must extend the retirement age. Therefore, it is inevitable that the government must take action to accommodate these aspects in order to maximize the quality of life of the elderly and to include the use of the skills and experiences of the elderly for maximum benefit; in turn, this will benefit the country because it will help to mitigate the impact on the economy (Department of Older Persons 2021). The National Social Reform Committee is responsible for further study of issues related to extending the retirement age from 60 years to 63 years (Office of the Civil Service Commission 2021). Hence, it is imperative to consider the preparedness of pre-ageing or ageing workers between the ages of 45 and 59, who comprise the early ageing workforce, particularly in terms of their active ageing perception and practices, including social support. This preparedness information assumes great significance in the ensuring of a smooth transition towards workers’ health for an extended retirement period or for working after retirement, and it will help the government to provide and prepare resources associated with active ageing within the working age and to develop policies and programs that support a healthy and productive ageing workforce.

In Thailand, a significant proportion of the civil service is dedicated to fulfilling educational missions; this proportion encompasses a sizeable cohort that includes 496,243 individuals, constituting 36.59% of the workforce. The majority of this group is affiliated with the Ministry of Education, including 410,890 government officials and educational personnel (Office of the Civil Service Commission 2020). Teachers or educational workers constitute a vital demographic dispersed throughout the communities nationwide. This profession demands less physically strenuous effort; workers in this profession can remain healthy, allowing the extension of the retirement age for those who are able and willing. Furthermore, healthy retired teachers may continue to contribute to their job or society in alternative capacities post-retirement, provided that they undergo suitable preparation beforehand in the ageing society. Therefore, this study aims to assess active ageing perception and practices and the social support of the educational personnel in the government sector in Nakhon-Si-Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. It was undertaken because it had the largest number of educational personnel compared to the other 14 provinces in the southern region and little is known about this issue in this sector of Thailand, which also indicates that there are problems regarding ageing preparedness (Ministry of Education 2022). The findings will provide evidence for active ageing preparedness among the educational personnel of the government sector through active ageing perception, practices, and social support. Furthermore, the results are likely to support the future study of retirement extension in the government sector, especially with regard to the active ageing workforce preparedness of the educational personnel in Thailand.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Design and Participants

This study utilized a cross-sectional design and was conducted in Nakhon Si Thammarat Primary Educational Service Area Office 4 in Thasala District, which is composed of 10 districts and is situated in southern Thailand. The study population of Thasala District consisted of 681 educational staff, which was the highest number in the 4th area. The sample size was determined using the finite population proportion formula, where p = 0.5, resulting in a minimum sample size of 246. An additional 10% of the study population was included to ensure an adequate sample size, resulting in a minimum sample size of 271. The participants were selected using multistage random sampling, and the number of participants was proportionate to the size of each sub-district community school.

2.2. Data Collection and Measurements

In this study, the data were collected between October and November 2021, using a four-part questionnaire that was developed by the researchers. The questionnaire included sections on demographic characteristics, perception, practices, and social support for active ageing. The active ageing framework in this study was based on health, participation, security, and lifelong learning (World Health Organization (WHO) 2002). The index of item objective congruence (IOC) was used to assess the content validity of the questionnaire, yielding a value range of 0.67–1.00, with an average of 0.95. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to assess the reliability of the questionnaire, with values of 0.70, 0.74, and 0.86 for active ageing perception, practices, and social support, respectively. The data were collected through an online questionnaire, and the research team was responsible for conducting the data collection procedures. Prior to data collection, the participants were provided with information about the study, its purpose, and its potential benefits.

2.3. Sociodemographic Characteristics, Perception, and Social Support for Active Ageing

The study examined various sociodemographic characteristics, including gender, age, marital status, educational level, noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs), salary, and extra income. The assessment of active ageing consisted of twenty-two perception items, categorized into four domains: good health behaviors (5 items), participation (5 items), security (5 items), and lifelong learning (7 items). The respondents provided dichotomous responses indicating agreement or disagreement with each item. Additionally, the study assessed social support for active ageing through twenty items that were categorized into three domains: mental health (5 items), information from organizations and other individuals (10 items), and evaluation (5 items). The respondents provided dichotomous responses indicating whether they received social support or not. The practice of active ageing was assessed through a set of 32 items, categorized into four domains: good health behaviors (11 items), participation (7 items), security (6 items), and lifelong learning (8 items). The respondents rated their level of practice on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from “never to rarely” (1) to “very often” (5).

2.4. Statistical Method

The analysis of both the descriptive and the inferential statistics was performed using SPSS version 23.0. The proportions of the variable were used to describe the active ageing perception, social support, and practices. The assessment of the overall active ageing perception, practices, and social support was performed by categorizing the scores using Bloom’s cutoff point (Akalu et al. 2020). The classification criteria were as follows: a score between 80 and 100% was deemed as good, between 60 and 79% as moderate, and less than 60% as poor. A point-biserial correlation analysis was employed to evaluate the relationships between personal characteristics, active ageing perception, social support, and active ageing practices. The point-biserial correlation is mathematically equivalent to the Pearson (product moment) correlation. It measures the relationship between two variables: one continuous variable (must be ratio scale or interval scale) and one naturally binary variable (Sheskin 2011). Statistical significance was set at the 5% level (p < 0.05).

2.5. Ethical Approval

This study obtained ethical approval from the Walailak University Ethics Committee, Thailand (WUEC-21-275-01), on 1 October 2021.

3. Results

3.1. Description of the Participants

We recruited 271 participants from 10 districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat (100% response rate). In

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of participants (n = 271).

Item	n (%)
Gender
Male	51 (18.8)
Female	220 (81.2)
Age (yr)
45–49	146 (53.9)
50–54	65 (24.0)
55–59	60 (22.1)
(Mean 50.4; SD 4.3; Max 59; Min 45)
Marital status
Single	85 (31.4)
Married	153 (56.5)
Widow/Separate	33 (43.5)
Education
Bachelor degree	212 (78.2)
Master degree	59 (21.8)
NCDs
Presence	130 (48.0)
Absence	141 (52.0)
Salary (Baht) *
<20,000	101 (37.3)
20,000–50,000	100 (36.9)
>50,000	70 (25.8)
($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 32,829; SD 18,600; Max 82,970; Min 5900)
Extra income
No	174 (64.2)
Yes	97 (35.8)

Note: * 1 USD = 34.537 Thai Baht (7 March 2023) (Bank of Thailand 2023).

, we exhibit the distribution of the participants by personal characteristics. The majority of the participants were female (n = 220; 81.2%); the mean age was 50.4 (SD 4.3); most were married (n = 153; 56.5%); and their highest educational level was a master’s degree; however, most of the participants (n = 212; 78.2%) had a bachelor’s degree. Most of the participants (n = 141; 52.0%) had not been diagnosed with noncommunicable diseases. The mean salary was THB 32,829 (SD 18,600), and 174 (64.2%) of the participants responded ‘no’ to the question on extra income (Table 1).

3.2. Active Ageing Perception, Practices, and Social Support

The participant’s perception of active ageing was assessed by computing the overall mean score of 20.75 (SD 1.64), which indicated a good level of active ageing perception (n = 260; 95.9%). A good level of perception of the four pillars of active ageing was reported by over ninety percent of the participants; the percentages for participation, good health behaviors, lifelong learning, and security were 100%, 95.2%, 95.2%, and 90.8%, respectively. The social support of the participants was at a good level with an overall mean of 18.36 (SD 1.21). A good level of social support was exhibited by over eighty percent of the participants; the percentages for emotion, information, and evaluation were 98.5%, 89.7%, and 96.7%, respectively. Most of the participants demonstrated active ageing practices at a moderate level (n = 186; 68.6%). The practice of good health was shown to be at a moderate level of 66.0%; good health practices comprised physical and mental practices, at 68.3% and 53.5%, respectively. Most of the practices for participation, security, and lifelong learning were reported at a moderate level (56.8%, 50.9%, and 65.3%, respectively) and were found to be in agreement with the aforementioned results (

Table 2. Perception, practices, and social supports for active ageing (n = 217).

Item (Score)	Level: n (%)
	Poor (Insufficient)	Moderate	Good
1. Perception of active ageing (overall) (0–22)	3 (1.1)	8 (3.0)	260 (95.9)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 20.75; SD 1.64; Max 22; Min 11)
1.1 Good health behaviors (0–5)	1 (0.4)	12 (4.4)	258 (95.2)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 4.52; SD 0.62; Max 5; Min 1)
1.2 Participation (0–5)	0 (0.0)	0 (0)	271 (100.0)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 4.96; SD 0.20; Max 5; Min 4)
1.3 Security (0–5)	3 (1.1)	22 (8.1)	246 (90.8)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 4.52; SD 0.72; Max 5; Min 1)
1.4 Life-long learning (0–7)	4 (1.5)	9 (3.3)	258 (95.2)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 6.74; SD 0.73; Max 7; Min 3)
2. Overall of social support (0–20)	5 (1.8)	21 (7.8)	245 (90.4)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 18.36; SD 1.21; Max 20; Min 7)
2.1 Emotion (0–5)	1 (0.4)	3 (1.1)	267 (98.5)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 4.64; SD 0.54; Max 5; Min 1)
2.2 Information (0–10)	23 (8.5)	5 (1.8)	243 (89.7)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 9.16; SD 1.80; Max 10; Min 2)
(1) From organization (0–5)	8 (3.0)	13 (4.8)	250 (92.3)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 4.66; SD 0.78; Max 5; Min 0)
(2) From other person (0–5)	24 (8.9)	6 (2.2)	241 (88.9)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 4.50; SD 1.13; Max 5; Min 0)
2.3 Evaluation (0–5)	1 (0.4)	8 (3.0)	262 (96.7)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 4.55; SD 0.57; Max 5; Min 2)
3. Active ageing practices (overall) (32–160)	70 (25.8)	186 (68.6)	15 (5.5)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 105.27; SD 14.58; Max 128; Min 69)
3.1 Good health behaviours (11–55)	69 (25.5)	179 (66.0)	23 (8.5)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 35.57; SD 5.48; Max 44; Min 19)
(1) Physical (6–30)	60 (22.1)	185 (68.3)	26 (9.6)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 19.63; SD 3.04; Max 24; Min 11)
(2) Mental health (5–25)	74 (27.3)	145 (53.5)	52 (19.2)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 15.94; SD 2.94; Max 20, Min 8)
3.2 Participation (7–35)	50 (29.5)	154 (56.8)	67 (24.7)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 23.86; SD 3.58; Max 28; Min 14)
3.3 Security (6–30)	85 (31.4)	138 (50.9)	48 (17.7)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 19.10; SD 3.84; Max 24; Min 7)
3.4 Life-long learning (8–40)	62 (22.9)	177 (65.3)	32 (11.8)
$(\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ 26.74; SD 4.57; Max 32; Min 14)

).

3.3. Correlations between Personal Characteristics, Active Ageing Perception, and Social Support with Active Ageing Practices

The analysis highlighted that extra income was correlated with active ageing practices in all pillars at a low level (overall r = 0.252; p-value < 0.001). The social support associated with three pillars at a low level included security (overall r = 0.214; p-value < 0.001), while the perception of active ageing associated with participation and lifelong learning at a low level (r = 0.138; p-value 0.023 and r = 0.177; p-value 0.004, respectively) included good health behaviors, security, and overall practices. Salary was also a personal characteristic that was associated with security and lifelong learning practices at a low level (r = 0.149; p-value 0.014 and r = −0.141; p-value 0.021, respectively) (

Table 3. Relationship between personal characteristics, active ageing perception, and social supports with active ageing practices (n = 217).

Factors	Active Ageing Practice: r (p-Value)
	Good Health Behaviors	Participation	Security	Life-Long Learning	Overall Active Ageing
(1) Gender	0.028	0.047	−0.027	−0.015	0.010
(Male/Female)	(0.651)	(0.440)	(0.654)	(0.808)	(0.869)
(2) Age group	−0.072	−0.005	−0.006	0.044	−0.016
(45–49/50–59)	(0.239)	(0.993)	(0.925)	(0.468)	(0.795)
(3) Marital status	−0.052	−0.039	−0.013	−0.064	−0.053
(Single, widow, separate/Married)	(0.397)	(0.527)	(0.832)	(0.291)	(0.389)
(4) Education	0.063	−0.027	0.029	−0.086	−0.002
(Bachelor/Master degree)	(0.302)	(0.660)	(0.637)	(0.159)	(0.971)
(5) NCDs	0.035	0.027	0.024	−0.057	0.008
(Absence/ Presence)	(0.563)	(0.654)	(0.692)	(0.347)	(0.891)
(6) Salary	0.108	0.034	0.149	−0.141	0.045
(<20,000, ≥20,000)	(0.076)	(0.556)	(0.014 *)	(0.021 *)	(0.466)
(7) Extra income	0.214	0.204	0.257	0.172	0.252
(No/Yes)	(<0.001 ***)	(<0.001 ***)	(<0.001 ***)	(0.004 **)	(<0.001 ***)
(8) Perception of Active ageing	0.028	0.138	0.069	0.177	0.118
(Poor-moderate/Good)	(0.644)	(0.023 *)	(0.260)	(0.004 **)	(0.052)
(9) Social support	0.174	0.243	0.038	0.253	0.214
(Poor-moderate/Good)	(0.004 **)	(<0.001 ***)	(0.538)	(<0.001 ***)	(<0.001 ***)

Note: * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.

).

4. Discussion

The WHO’s active ageing pillars emphasize the importance of promoting and supporting healthy ageing by ensuring that older adults can participate fully in society. This study focused on the social support, active ageing perception, and practices of the educational staff from community schools in the context of the ageing population of southern Thailand.

The present study found that the majority of the participants’ perceptions of active ageing were favorable at a good level across all measures of the four domains, while the overall practices were at a moderate level. However, the important finding was that most of the participants rated participation at a good level more often than the other practice aspects. The findings differed from those of previous research in that almost all of the primary school teachers (in both the urban and rural areas) aged 50 years and above rated their retirement preparation practices at a good level in all aspects, including the physical, psychological, habitation, and property aspects; only the leisure-time activities aspect was at a moderate level (Kaewmano 2022). In our study, the participants exhibited an increased awareness of ageing information pertaining to the promotion of health and quality of life, but an insufficient awareness of good practice. The reason could be a lack of knowledge or information about active ageing behaviors and practices, despite having a positive attitude towards health (Tsai et al. 2022). Regarding the cultivation of self-improvement towards ageing with a level of quality, the study revealed an overall moderate level of performance, with few individuals exhibiting exemplary behavior. It is possible that these results can be attributed to the fact that the sample population was of a working age. A person will practice effective ageing only when they are aware of their own ageing. However, engaging in practices when at the lower age of the sample population in order to achieve ageing with a level of quality is a factor that can contribute to their further development when they are ageing. Another reason is probably due to a lack of access to resources or limited opportunities for good practice (Prochaska and DiClemente 1983; Sander et al. 2015; Ajzen 1991). Finally, there may be psychological factors at play, such as a lack of motivation or self-efficacy, because the study participants were not members of the older group (Schulz and Heckhausen 1996). The individual may understand the benefits of healthy behaviors but may struggle with actually implementing them due to a lack of confidence in their ability to make lasting changes (Bandura 1997; Deci and Ryan 2008; Williams and Grow 2011).

The results of the participation practices were in line with social support. It is a commonly held belief that in many communities, educational staff, especially teachers, are highly respected and are considered to be inherent community leaders. They are seen as natural leaders who can give advice on the various affairs of the communities. Teachers play an important role in the development of people and communities and have concretized this idea by encouraging a stronger link between home, school, and community (Jourdan et al. 2021). Therefore, they are always active in performing many relationship roles in the community where they belong, and they also serve as advocates for quality education, the protection and welfare of children, and the promotion of literacy, wellness, and health (Bae and Yoon 2021). The good level of perceptions of the participants on the efficacy and social support for active ageing reflected their ability to prepare themselves and their peers and to transfer awareness to their own families and the elderly in the student’s family, as well as to those living within the community context (Harashchenko et al. 2021).

The correlation analysis highlighted that extra income was associated with active ageing practices in all the pillars. It was found that the aspects due to the life security factor were practiced at the most inadequate level when compared to the other aspects. The study participants were ageing workers, aged 45–59 years; salary and extra income were crucial factors that contributed to the security of those in this working age (Tipapong 2021). However, adequate income can help workers meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, and it also enables them to participate in social activities and pursue their interests (Zhang and Xiang 2019). It was also found that nearly 40 percent of the participants worked for extra income, which reflected the insufficiency of their income stability or that they had an economic burden due to their family status; most of them were married, divorced, or separated. The aforementioned study reflected the economic status and the preparedness of Thai teachers to confront economic insecurity through engaging in extra work, which significantly increased their income (Phuangpanya and Pongpan 2021). One key aspect of the security domain referred to the economic resources that older adults have access to and their ability to maintain a basic standard of living. Furthermore, having extra income can provide older adults with greater financial security and flexibility. Overall, income and extra income are essential components of the security domain of the active ageing pillar as they contribute to the financial security and well-being of older adults (Zacher et al. 2021) and enable them to participate fully in society (Kobayashi et al. 2022). These findings were in line with the correlations between social support and active ageing practices in that the participants who received social support had better physical and mental health outcomes. A previous study demonstrated that social support was associated with better health behaviors, such as physical activity and healthy eating and lower levels of depression and anxiety (Newsom et al. 2005). In addition, we also found that social support was positively correlated with participation in lifelong learning activities. Social support from family and friends was associated with higher levels of participation in formal and informal learning activities and positively associated with ageing preparation among older adults, especially with regard to the engagement in activities that promoted ageing preparation, such as financial planning and healthcare management. (Chruściel and Dobrowolska 2020; Lee et al. 2022).

This study is limited by the population studied, which was confined to a single area. Therefore, the findings of this study may not be generalizable to other areas or cultural contexts within the country. In addition, there was no comparative study between late adulthood and old age in retired educational personnel to examine their behaviors in terms of successful ageing practices. Furthermore, a more in-depth investigation into the pros and cons of how to become engaged with an active practice may reveal additional insights.

5. Conclusions

The primary objective of this study was to assess active ageing perceptions and practices and the social support of the educational personnel in a community’s schools. The findings revealed that almost all of the participants had a good active ageing perception and a moderate level of practice in all four pillars, and they had a good level in all aspects of social support. The factors correlated with active ageing practices were extra income and social support. Thus, promoting access to resources that empower active ageing is crucial, particularly in terms of both health and societal engagement practices. This includes a focus on creating income stability that can serve active ageing practices and can be a motivating factor for post-retirement work. Given the heightened awareness and support that educational staff receive from their families, their community, and the educational organizations, they are well-positioned to serve as active elders after retirement. As such, facilitating readiness for work after retirement among educational staff is of paramount importance for the Thai government in the context of population ageing.