THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COPING RESPONSES AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG INDIAN ELDERLY POPULATION

Abstract

Old age is regarded as a time period when individuals experience change in many aspects of their lives.While being presented with various challenges over time, their resources like social support, physical and mental health, financial income, etc also tend to decline, thus leaving them at a loss of resources that are actually necessary to help them cope with these challenges.Most studies on elderly population have suggested these factors have an impact on their Quality of Life. The onset of the COVID pandemic (which was deemed health-threatening, especially for older people in comparison to adults of other age groups) and lockdown implied further complications for their health, mental well being and their daily functioning too. However, despite the absence of external sources of support, the presence of internal sources like coping could act as a protective factor in face of adversity, and have a positive influence on their Quality of Life.The aim of this research is to study the coping responses of elderly Indian population during the lockdown period of COVID pandemic,and its effect on their Quality of Life.