LIFESTYLE PRACTICES AS CORRELATES OF GRACEFUL AGEING

ABSTRACT

This study investigated lifestyle practices as correlates of graceful ageing among teachers in public secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State. Ten research questions were raised and answered in this study. Six null hypotheses were formulated and tested at .05 level of significance. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. The population of the study comprised 963 teachers in 12 public secondary schools in Asaba, Delta State. The sample size of this study was 116 male and 184 female teachers in public secondary schools in Asaba, Delta State who have worked for 25 years and above, and, were close to retirement age. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. The instrument was subjected to validation by two experts in Home Economics Education, and an expert in Measurement and Evaluation in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin to ascertain the validity. Reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.85 using Crobanch Alpha statistical tool. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient to answer the research questions. The formulated null hypotheses were tested using independent t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistics. The findings of the study revealed that teachers adopt social, physical health, dietary and psychological lifestyle practices in public secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State. The findings also revealed that there is a positive relationship between social, physical health, dietary and psychological lifestyle practices adopted by teachers in public secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State and graceful ageing, and, the relationship between social, physical health, dietary and psychological lifestyle practices adopted by teachers in public secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State and graceful ageing is significant. Also revealed in the finding was that no difference exits in lifestyle practices adopted by teachers in public secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State based on gender and location, and, the difference in lifestyle practices adopted by teachers in public secondary schools in Asaba metropolis of Delta State based on gender and location is not significant.Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that, teachers in public secondary schools should adopt social lifestyle practices which will enable them to discharge their responsibilities well and age gracefully.Public secondary school teachers should understand the importance and the need to adopt good physical health lifestyle practices which will make them to be in good health and age gracefully while in active service.Regular healthy dietary behaviours as a dietary lifestyle practices should be adopted and promoted by public secondary school teachers, this will in no measures make them healthy in active service and prolong their lifespan.