BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

Economic Well-being and Coping Behaviours of Low Income Housing Residence
During Recent Economic Downturn
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sharifah Azizah Haron
Zuhairah Maarof
Faculty of Human Ecology, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 7108; sh.azizah@putra.upm.edu.my
Keywords: Income adequacy, inflation, coping behaviours
Mobility Pattern among the Older Adult Road User
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sharifah Norazizan Syed Abdul Rashid
Asmidawati Ashari, Mohd. Fazdillah Bagat, Mohd. Rizal Hussain and Mohd. Hafis Ahmad Shukri
Institute of Gerontology, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8947 2735; asmidawati@putra.upm.edu.my
Keywords: Older driver, mobility pattern, frequency
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Social Sciences
Data from the 2008 Survey of Consumer Empowerment in a Globalised Market were analysed to determine
income adequacy, coping method adopted and factors associated with economic wellbeing status during recent
global price increase among low income housing residents in Malaysia. Odds of self-reporting income adequacy
as worse off versus no change (including better off) following the recent price increase was lower as the proportion
of wife contribution to household income becomes greater. Respondents who are satisfied with their own financial
situation had lower odds of perceiving their income adequacy to be worse off following the recent price increase
compared with those who are not satisfied with their financial situation. Household income, poverty status,
number of earner, education, location, family structure and number of children below 18 in the family were not
significant factors in self-reported health.
Several study indicated that mobility of the older person is not only desirable for their social integration,
but also contributes significantly to their quality of life. The purpose of this study is to examine the mobility
pattern among older road user. The cross-sectional survey study entitled Perception of Needs and Barriers of
Older driver in Malaysia (2006-2008) was carried out through face-to face interview with 400 respondent aged 50
years and above. The mobility patterns of the respondents were observed through the questions related the usual
visited destinations, frequency of the visited destinations in a month, with whom the respondent visit, drive or
ride with others and the use of transportation mode. The mean age of the respondents was 59.6 years (±6.7SD),
equal gender distribution, mean monthly income was RM 1743.47 and 45.8% are still employed. Majority of the
respondents are Malay (45.8%) and Chinese (45.8%), 84.0% were married and 58.5% of the respondents attained
secondary education. The mean frequency of driving per week was 8.0 times (±6.2SD) and 55% respondents drive
less than 50km per week. Study showed that market is the most frequent visited place among the respondents
(85%) followed by bank (76%), shopping complex (68%), visiting relatives/friends house (64%) and religious
place (60%). Generally, respondents visited those places by driving a car and accompany their spouse. Meanwhile
26.4% respondents used to ride with others to go shopping complex and accompany their spouse (61.5%) or
children (30.0%). In conclusion, the mobility pattern among studied population showed that market and bank are
most frequent place visited by older person and most of them drive in short distance. Hence, the planner should
aim to locate such facilities in each neighbourhood in order to build an aged friendly environment.