Kealey, Julianne (2016) TOMNET: An Examination of how Peer Support Programs Assist Healthy Ageing in Older Men. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Older men in regional areas face unique challenges to healthy ageing. To mobilise the knowledge and skills base of older men in community, pathways to healthy ageing must be facilitated. The current study involved a partnership with The Older Mens Network (TOMNET) of Toowoomba, a peer support program for older men in a regional area of Australia. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between peer support and social connectedness (perceived quality of social connections), subjective wellbeing (global judgement of life satisfaction), and, mental health (a state of mental wellbeing). A sample of 81 TOMNET members completed a short survey. In general, TOMNET members reported relatively high levels of social connectedness, wellbeing, and mental health, respectively. There were significant correlations between social connectedness, mental health and subjective wellbeing (p < .05), and a significant positive correlation between the predictor variables, peer support and social connectedness (p < .05). The importance of social connectedness to peer support programs for older men, and, to healthy ageing, was demonstrated through associations between social connectedness and peer support, and, social connectedness, subjective wellbeing, and mental health. Multivariate regression analysis and mean difference testing found no significant effects of peer support on the three healthy ageing variables. Trends toward significance for differences between peer support engagement and levels of social connectedness and subjective wellbeing were noted and warrant further investigation. Further qualitative analysis of data is recommended to provide greater insight on the value of peer support to healthy ageing of older, regional Australian men.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Lorelle Burton; Gavin Beccaria |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Aug 2025 04:08 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Aug 2025 04:08 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | TOMNET ; healthy ageing ; peer support ; social connectedness ; subjective wellbeing ; mental health |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52456 |
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