INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY ON LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENT AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTHY LIVING AMONG OLDER ADULT STAFF OF SELECTED BASIC SCHOOLS IN TANKE, ILORIN, KWARA STATE

Abstract

This study assessed the influence of social media advocacy on lifestyle adjustments and sustainable health living among older adult staff of selected basic schools in Tanke Area, Ilorin, Kwara State. The population comprised older adult teaching and non-teaching staff of selected public and private basic schools, from which a sample was drawn using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire titled Social Media Advocacy, Lifestyle Adjustment and Sustainable Health Living Questionnaire (SMALASHLQ). The instrument was validated by experts and tested for reliability using the test–retest method, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.78, both descriptive statistics were used to answer the research questions. Findings revealed a high level of exposure of older adult staff to social media health advocacy messages. The results also shows that social media advocacy has certain effect on lifestyle adjustments and on the level of sustainable health living among the older adults However, challenges such as limited digital skills and poor internet access were identified as factors limiting the effectiveness of social media advocacy. The study concluded that social media advocacy is an effective tool for promoting positive lifestyle adjustments and sustainable health living among older adult staff of basic schools. It was recommended that school authorities, health educators, and policymakers strengthen digital health advocacy initiatives and improve digital literacy and internet access to enhance healthy living among older adults.