Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

This study was anchored on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. His hierarchy

proposes that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to meet higher

level growth needs.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is most often displayed as a hierarchical pyramids

with five levels. However, the most recent depictions of hierarchical pyramid have seven

or eight levels. But, no matter which pyramid you review, the lowest levels of pyramid are

made up of the most basic needs, while the more complex needs are located at the top of

the pyramid. The four lower levels of the pyramid are considered as physiological or

deficiency needs, while the top level(s) are considered growth needs. Maslow’s believes

that the lower level needs have to be satisfied before higher needs can influence behavior.

Self-actualization

Esteem

Social
z Security
Safety and

Physiological

Figure 1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

The five levels in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

 Physiological Needs

Physiological needs deal with the maintenance of the human body.

This lowest category includes the most basic needs that are vital to survival,

such as the need for water, air, food and sleep. Maslow believed that these

needs are the most instinctive needs because all needs become secondary
 until these needs are met. If we need water, then little else matters until we

have something to drink.

Examples of physiological needs are air, food, water, shelter,

warmth, sleep, and etc.

 Safety and Security needs

Safety and security needs are about keeping us safe from harm.

These needs include shelter, job security, health and safe environments. If

a person does not feel safe in an environment, they will seek to find safety

before they attempt to meet any higher level needs. These security needs are

important for survival, but they are not as important as physiological needs.

Examples of safety and security needs are safety, shelter, security,

law & order, employment, health, stability, etc.

 Social needs

Social needs advance our tribal nature. These are needs for

belonging, love, affection as well as relationships with family and friends

and companionship. These needs are met through pleasing ad fulfilling

relationships with others. A pleasing and fulfilling relationship would imply

acceptance by others. Having satisfied their basic physiological and security

needs, people can seek relationships from which their need for love and

belonging can be met.

 Examples of social needs are belongingness, love, affection,

intimacy, family, friends, relationships, etc.

 Esteem Needs

After the more basic needs have been satisfied, esteem needs

becomes important to an individual. Once individual have satisfactorily met

their need for love and belonging, they can begin to develop positive

feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. Esteem needs are for higher position

within a group and act to foster pride in their work and in themselves as

individuals. These needs include self-esteem, respect, achievement,

confidence, recognition and accomplishment.

 Self-actualizing needs

Self-Actualization is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy. This

level of needs pertains to what a person’s full potential is and realizing that

potential. “What a man can be, he must be” is the basis of the perceived

need for self-actualization. Maslow describes this as the desire to become

everything that one is capable of becoming.

Examples of self-actualizing needs are realizing personal potential,

self-fulfillment, pursue talent, personal growth, peak experiences,

creativity, etc.

The independent variable in this study are the evaluation of the hierarchy of needs

of the old-aged persons who are living [single/unmarried/childless] in an institution and

being taking cared by volunteered nurses.

 While on the other hand, the dependent variable is the depending perceptions and

behavior of the old-aged persons towards life for being single and unmarried. Their life

and perception as single/unmarried/childless old-aged persons are the basis in order to

assess and evaluate their behavior.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Demographic Attainable
Profile Perceptions
Heirarchy of
Age
Needs and behavior
Civil status Self-actualization of old-aged
Esteem
Educational assessment Social persons
Safety
Order in the family
Physiological towards life
Economic status

Figure 2. The attainable Hierarchy of Needs (Independent Variable) has been

evaluated to assess the perceptions and behavior of single/unmarried/childless of old-egd
persons living in an institution (Dependent Variable).