TY  - JOUR
T1  - Coping with Loneliness among the Elderly: An Interpretive Structural
Modeling of Self-Management Coping Strategy
AU - Ridhuan Tony Lim Abdullah, Muhammad AU - Siraj, Saedah AU - Hussin, Zaharah 
JO  - The Social Sciences
VL  - 12
IS  - 2
SP  - 299
EP  - 304
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1818-5800
DO  - sscience.2017.299.304
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=sscience.2017.299.304
KW  - Self-management coping strategy
KW  -elderly
KW  -loneliness coping strategies
KW  -interpretive structural modeling
KW  -investigations
AB  - Studies have reported that older people are at higher risk to succumb to loneliness due to a number
of prevalent factors which prevent or limit their social activities. Past studies concured that loneliness if left
unattended could lead to declining of physical health, depression, cognitive impairment and even suicidal.
Therefore, investigations into appropriate strategies in managing loneliness among the elderly should be a
continous effort. Contributing to the investigations, instead of adding to external interventions, this study
aimed at investigating how the elderly could cope with loneliness through self-management srategies. In detail,
the objective of the study is to propose a self-management coping strategy model as intervention to aid the
elderly in Malaysia to cope with loneliness. The model was constructed through integrated expert’s views
managed via Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) Technique. About (84) experts from various backgrounds
such as academics, ex-patient of loneliness, retired professionals and old folk’s home caretakers were selected
to give the input to develop the model. The outcome of the study resulted in a network of 16 self-management
coping strategies to map a holistic guide for the elderly in managing loneliness effectively. The outcome of the
study would implicate how the elderly could cope with loneliness through self-management strategies as a
viable alternative to external aid.
ER  -