Gender Differences in Social Support, Loneliness, and Isolation among Old Age Citizens

The present paper attempted to explore the impact of gender on social support, social isolation and loneliness (social and emotional) among senior citizens. In order to assess the study constructs 6-Item (short) De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (1985), 6-item (short) scale developed by Hawthorne (2006) and, Social Support Scale developed by Malik (2002) were used. Standardized back translation procedure was used for the translation of the measures into Urdu. Purposive convenient sampling technique was used to draw the sample of 500 senior citizens from both urban and rural areas of the various districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The age of the participants ranged between 60 to 90 years (M = 67.59, SD = 7.54). -test analysis revealed significant gender differences on social support and its sub constructs. Moreover results demonstrated non-significant gender differences for isolation and loneliness.

English Dictionary, 2013). Although, old age is considered different and varies from region to region and in different time frame as well. Hence it could be concluded that social issues like position in family, difficulty in getting jobs, retirement and physical condition determines vulnerability of old age as compared to natural and biological phase of life (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24572231).
Old people are often embraced with many issues that results from their age: With decline in physical strength, one is socially not active as that of before and in long run feels segregated and isolated. They are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than younger adults, and have limited regenerative abilities to combat with these problems. The organic process of ageing is called senescence, which is natural process of getting old, whereas the terms used for medical study for ageing are gerontology and geriatrics that explain troublesome effects that various diseases have on old people. (Allyn & Bacon, 2010).
Theory "Eight stages of Life" of Erikson (1963) establishes that individuality and characteristics of humans are made and modified in eight stages starting from birth of a person and goes along with ageing process till end of life. Erikson finds out old age as phase of life where there is integrity vs despair. People in old age think back on their past life and people with no achievements have compunction on their past life and this feeling of regret brings disappointment to the person. Such an individual is prone to distress and may feel frustrated. People who are satisfied with their achievements feel good that imparts them feeling of integrity (Carver & Scheir, 2000;Erikson, 1963Erikson, , 1968.

Loneliness, social isolation and social support
Loneliness frequently means trouble connected to an absence of near societal relations, especially those that encourage integration and passionate closeness (Green et al., 2001;Rook, 1984). These components speak to an obnoxious condition of being, promoting a low quality of life and harmful wellbeing results. The study of Dykstra, (2009), found that loneliness is an undesirable personal feeling although social isolation is the objective state of not having ties with other individuals. Scharf T (2011), affirms this, in one of his investigations that loneliness could be seen as a constant state, being desolate normally speaks to the persistence of longlasting troublesome associations with relatives and constrained associations with companions and neighbors, or it can be connected to the effect of specific life occasions or misfortunes associated with age (e.g. Widowhood). Moreover Forbes in his studies in (1996), identifies both social and emotional isolation in experience of isolation and both were regarded as unfavorable by him.
According to Luanaigh and Lawlor, (2008); social isolation and loneliness negatively effect one's perception about their health and welfare.
However study recommends that ways leading to loneliness differ among old age individuals. Some senior citizens live their whole life lonely, and others turn out to be lonely with age, though still others turn out to be less lonely in old age (Dykstra et al., 2005;Victor et al., 2005).
Social support is an essential element to cope with difficulties of senior citizens. Provision of social support is important for senior citizens as it aids in reducing the impacts of social isolation and loneliness.
Longitudinal investigations by Bassuk, et al. (1999), revealed that those old age individuals who don't have connections of societal group have greater chances of being socially isolated than those senior citizens who have proper societal group connections.

Causes of social isolation and loneliness among old aged people
The causes of loneliness and social isolation can be numerous, for example, living alone, marital status/widowhood/ divorce, absence of children, low education, poverty, illness, retirement; and so forth.
The study of Victor et al, (2005); Cann and Jopling, (2011), explains that loneliness start slowly in old age and in some cases, loneliness occurs through a particular life incident, particularly one related with some shortfall, like e.g. retirement, or grief etc. The threats of loneliness rises when an individual has more responsibilities in their lives.
These life moves have greater probability to occur at old age because the risk of loneliness and isolation are greater for senior citizens. Schnittger et al, (2012), further highlights that because of the death or disease of earlier relations societal linkages may possibly reduce in extent, or due to their own poor health old age individuals may be incapable to take part in formerly delighted events. Furthermore ill health, mental and physical deficiency are also the reasons for loneliness and isolation denoted by Victor et al, (2005).

Gender and old age
While observing gender, Pechtel and Pizzagalli, (2010) explains the gender differences due to different developmental lines for males and females. It was stated that early life experiences may indicate various consequences for males and females individually. According to Kimmel, (2004), that over eras, variations among male and female individualities usually altered through historical, traditional, and normative settings. Customary the roles of old age females are described as that of linkage and families guardians (Dykstra & Fokkema, 2007;Rosenthal, 1985), while the role of males are more related with the provisions of goods to their families. (Thorsen, 1998).Females likewise appear to be more eager to discover, confess, and describe her emotional state such as loneliness (Barstad, 2004;Nolen-Hoeksema & Rusting, 2000;Pinquart, 2003;Pinquart & Sorensen, 2001).
According to some research reports, females have greater occurrence of loneliness than males Savikko, Routasalo, Tilvis,Strandberg, & Pitkala, 2005;Tornstam, Rydell, Vik, & Oberg, 2010;Victor & Yang, 2012). this has been clarified through the more occurrence of widowhood in females (Dahlberg et al., 2013;Drennan et al., 2008;Victor, Scambler, Marston, Bond, & Bowling, 2006). The study of Savikko et al., (2005), also confirmed these findings that women are more related with loneliness than men, Thorsen, (1990) ;Tornstam, (1992) Victor, Scambler, et al., (2005), their research regarding gender observed minor difference or no differences at all, rather to study loneliness the researchers found these elements significant such as marital status, age, physical well-being, and living provisions . According to Perlman, (2004), that females consider themselves more lonely than males while reliable tests for measuring isolation and loneliness propose minimum differences between males and females . Routasalo and Pitkala, (2003), stated in their study that former investigations regarding gender differences formed inconsistent results about the relation among gender and loneliness. Though, study observing on social loneliness and emotional loneliness independently have observed that males have more social loneliness and less emotional loneliness than females. (Dykstra & Fokkema, 2007;Dykstra & Gierveld, 2004;Green et al., 2001).
Isolation and loneliness happens at any phase of lifetime of a person but it become a complex problem for senior citizens. Isolation and old age is not necessarily responsible for each other but still both have close relationship To have more vivid comprehension there is still need that continuous exploration ought to investigate certain mental and social issues connected with senior citizens. It is along these lines, present study is a practical attempt to observe the association between social support, social isolation and loneliness in old age individuals. Furthermore, it also aims in-depth exploration of demographic issues relevant to the subject and to investigate the mean gender difference on social support, social isolation, and loneliness among older people The purpose of the present study paper is to explore the impact of gender on social support, social isolation and loneliness (social and emotional) among senior citizens

Hypotheses
To investigate the mean gender difference on social support, social isolation, and loneliness among older people following hypotheses were formulated • Old age males will score low on social support as compare to females.
• Old age females will score higher on loneliness and social isolation as compare to males

Method Sample
The sample of the present study included 500 older people (N =) which comprised of males (n = 250) and females (n = 250). According to Erickson's "Psycho Social theory" the base line of old age is around 60 years. The sample was extracted from both Urban and Rural areas of Peshawar through purposive convenient sampling technique and were also catalogued on the bases of socio economic status.

Instruments
A number of instruments were used to measure the appropriate constructs of the study which are as follow: Social Support Scale (SSS). The SSS is 51 items scale developed by Malik (2002) which is anchored on 4-point Likert type rating. This scale comprised of five subscales such as Informational Support, Tangible Aid, Emotional Support, Esteem Support, and Social Network Support. SSS has a highly significant Pearson r-value for test-retest reliability i.e .85 whereas the alpha coefficient for SSS is .94.

De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (1985). A 6-Item short De Jong
Gierveld Loneliness Scale is also used to measure the other variable. It is anchored on Liker type response format with a Cronbach's alpha as reported by authors as .71 for 6-Item scale and .68 and .69 for Emotional and Social Loneliness subscale respectively.

Friendship Scale (2006).
Friendship Scale is a Likert type 6-item scale developed by Hawthorne (2006) and was used to evaluate the level of social isolation. All the Items were reverse scored to measure the construct accordingly. Cronbach alpha on sample of 829 senior citizens was demonstrated excellent (a = .83).

Procedure
The study was carried out into two steps. In first step original scales for social isolation and loneliness was translated in to Urdu. Back translation method was carried out through standard translation procedure.
The second step was carried out to meet the objectives of the study. For this purpose, sample of the study i.e. senior citizens were selected both from urban and rural areas of different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwah. First, the participants were brief about the objectives of the study, informed consent was taken and confidentiality of the participants was ensured. After giving required instructions (written as well as oral) the scales of the study were given to the participants.  Note. SS = social support.  Note. IS = informational social support; TA = tangible aid social support; EmoS = emotional support; EstS = esteem social support; SNW = social network support; TSS = tangible social support; SL = social loneliness; EL = emotional loneliness; SI = social isolation.

Results
*p < .05. ***p < .001. support. Results also indicated non-significant mean differences on social loneliness, emotional loneliness, overall loneliness and social isolation.

Discussion
The finding of the study suggested a significance difference between male and female participants on their mean scores on informational support, tangible aid, emotional support, esteem social support, and social network support, where female scored higher on overall social support.
A logical explanation may be that females are given more respect in Pakistani society and all their needs are generally assumed to be fulfilled by the male family members. Secondly females are preferred in various situations and they have more opportunities to develop their interpersonal skill within family and with their peers. Therefore, they are supposed to achieve more social support as compared to their male counterpart.
Findings of Grundy (2006) support our argument who found that that females' interpersonal links are more solid and durable as compare to males. According to the study of Khalid Ahmad (2011) 20.5 % females contrasted with 10.4 % males stated that they mostly share their issues and stresses with their daughters. So it is comprehensible that old age women feel happy in sharing their issues with their family members and and receive higher social support from both male and female members.
Though, mothers also depend on their male offspring for emotive care.
Very limited participant of the study stated that companions and people residing near to their homes providing care and share their issues and stresses. Generally, close relatives and family members appear to be the imperative wellspring of providing care and share their difficulties and troubles.
Earlier researches further approve our results like one interesting finding of Boneva, Kraut and Frohlich, (2001), that women use telephone more frequently than men, and generally women uses telephone for unimportant discussions and for expressing their feelings instead the researcher specifies that men call on telephone only for purpose. According to the studies of Antonucci and Akiyama, (1987), Barstad, (2004), Lowenthal and Haven, (1968)  provisions. On the other hand Perlman, (2004) found that females consider their selves more lonely than males while reliable tests for measuring isolation and loneliness propose minimum differences between males and females. Routasalo and Pitkala, (2003), also endorsed that former investigations regarding gender differences formed inconsistent results about the relation among gender and loneliness.

Summary
It is revealed from the finding of the study that there exists a a significance difference between males and females on their availability of informational, tangible and emotional support, and females and on average scored higher on overall social support. The results of the current study indicated non-significant gender differences in the mean scores of social

Limitations and suggestions
Like most of the studies of social science there may be certain issues that contribute to the limitations of the present study. Most important is that the data was exclusively gathered through self-report inventories, which lacks the inclusion of multiple sources. Consequently, the relationships between our variables of study may have been inflated due to response bias. Collection of data through multiple resources, for future researches, is suggested to enhance the validity and generalization of findings. Moreover, some valuable demographic variables were not exclusively controlled i.e., age, family system and cultural context. The recent research focused only on gender of senior citizens, it can also be considered as a limitation of the study.
Additional research needs to be carried out to study the further demographic information related to sample concerned. Longitudinal research is recommended to investigate this issue.

Conclusion
It is revealed from the finding of the study that there exists a a significance difference between males and females on their availability of informational, tangible and emotional support, and females and on average scored higher on overall social support. The results of the current study indicated non-significant gender differences in the mean scores of social loneliness, emotional loneliness, overall loneliness and social isolation. It is concluded that in our society especially rural areas elders are given importance and respect, as people in our society abide by certain traditions and customs. Moreover, people are concerned about their reputation in society. So here situation is quite in the favor of elder people. Elders are asked for suggestions and opinions in all affairs of family. And they have feeling of importance as they have a say in family. But even despite of this consideration towards them, there are certain factors that still can make them feel lonely. Measures should be taken in individual as well as collective capacity to combat negative feelings coming with old age. Old age, if treated well can prove institute for the society.