ShareKUWAIT: Some people age without having been blessed with children, either by personal choice, medical reasons or other factors. This is something that some individuals find difficult and somewhat concerning, especially with the nature of ageing and weakness. To examine more closely the psychological, social and economic aspects of ageing without children, Kuwait Times spoke to Behavior and human relations consultant Saad Al-Refaei and psychologist Latifah Al-Hadhoud.
Kuwait Times: What are the social challenges faced by elderly people who are not blessed with children in emotional and social terms?
Saad Al-Refaei: Logically, there are no real problems with society, except for cultural problems, in which these individuals believe that they are somehow lacking according to societal norms. It means that those who do not have children feel that their lives are incomplete, which is not true. They should believe in themselves and what they have chosen for their lives. If they have tried in the past and were not blessed with children, they should accept their fate and move forward to live their lives.
Kuwait Times: What are the social and cultural pressures these individuals face in society? How do they affect their daily lives and social relationships?
Refaei: The separation between what a person wants for themselves and what society expects from them has become inevitable and necessary, because a person does not live to please others. I don’t believe that we live in a time where someone would judge a person based on their inability or even lack of desire to have children. We should accept each other without personal restrictions, only respect.
Latifah Al-Hadhoud: From a social perspective, seniors face some problems resulting from the inability to maintain a suitable level of adaptation in performing social roles and maintaining relationships with their community at this age. Social relationships become limited at this stage and are influenced by the individual’s social status and the strength or weakness of their relationships.
Kuwait Times: How does the absence of children affect the economic stability of the elderly? What are the financial challenges they may face in old age?
Refaei: The need to secure a continuous extra income for later in life is important regardless of having children or not. Personally, I will not rely on my children to spend on me during my old age, and I will not ask them for anything. I understand that everyone has their own lives. I believe in constant preparation for all circumstances. I have secured my future. The biggest obstacle in a person’s life is relying on others and forgetting oneself, ignoring precious time and their life until it passes.
Kuwait Times: What advice do you have for those who suffer from loneliness or fear of challenges due to the absence of children in their lives?
Refaei: Reconcile with everything in life, even loneliness, as it may be inevitable. Reconcile with everything and accept everything in life. Fill your time up and adapt to the changing times, and you will not feel lonely. If you can reconcile with your loneliness and adapt to it, you will automatically become attractive to those around you, as people tend to be attracted to the strong. Be one of them.
Hadhoud: The elderly stage is considered one of the vital stages of growth that involves many physiological, biological, social and psychological changes. These changes lead to the emergence of many problems that hinder the elderly’s adaptation and affect their mental and social well-being. Social isolation and feelings of loneliness are major risk factors for mental health problems that affect the elderly in advanced ages of life.
Some seniors are at risk of developing depression and anxiety due to the lack of support, care and appropriate services that suit their age and health condition. In this case, we recommend the elderly expressing their feelings freely and honestly, occupying their free time and engaging in group activities such as social and sports activities. It is also important to take care of both physical and mental health, as they have a significant impact on stability in this stage.
