Socioeconomic Determinants of Health and Well-Being in a Low Resource Setting: A Case of Older Adults Living in a Rural Setting in Northwestern Cambodia
This dissertation examines the associations between socioeconomic factors, and physical and psychological well-being among older adults in Cambodia. Focusing on subjective and objective socioeconomic status (SES) and the mediating roles of social and welfare support, this dissertation consists of three interrelated chapters that address different facets of the relationships. Paper 1 (Chapter 2) investigates the demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and social support structures among older Cambodians. Findings reveal significant gender and age disparities, with women and the oldest adults more likely to experience lower socioeconomic status and weaker social support. Paper 2 (Chapter 3) explores the associations between subjective and objective SES (household wealth and economic fulfillment) and well-being outcomes. Results indicate that economic fulfillment have a stronger association with psychological well-being compared to household wealth, which substantiates the sigificance of ones’ subjective assessment of their economic standing in relation to psychological well-being. Paper 3 (Chapter 4) focuses on the mediating effects of social and welfare support on the SES-well-being relationship. While social support significantly mediates the association of SES with both physical and psychological well-being, welfare support does not appear to play a meaningful role in these relationships. This finding suggests potential inefficiencies in the government welfare system for older Cambodians. Collectively, these papers provide a comprehensive and contextualized examination of how socioeconomic factors, subjective perceptions, and support systems interact to shape well-being outcomes in a post-conflict, low-resource setting. The dissertation contributes to aging research in low- and middle-income countries and offers practical implications for improving social and health interventions for the vulnerable older population.
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