1878 – The relationship between life satisfaction and levels of social functioning in elderly

Abstract

Purpose This descriptive study aims to determine the relationship between life satisfaction and levels of social functioning in elderly. Method The sample of the study is consisted of 115 individuals who lives in a district of Aydin between January-March 2012 and who are volunteer to participate the study. The data were obtained from Sociodemographic Data Collection Form, Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS). Chi-quare, Correlation, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in data analyzes. Findings 57.4% of the participants were women, 58.3% of elderly participants were married and 93% used auxiliary device. The mean LS total score of men were higher than women (X=10.1 ±3.7). There was a statistically significant relationship between total score of Life Satisfaction Scale and the subscales of Social Functioning. A statistically significant difference were found between age and interpersonal functioning, independence-competence, independence-performance subscales of SFS (X2= 11.584, p= 0.003, X2= 14.988, p= 0.001 and X2= 20.190, p= 0.00 respectively). Unlike the male, life satisfaction scores were increased in females if leisure time activities were increased (z=3.445, p= 0.001). There was a positive correlation between interpersonal functionality and life satisfaction score (r= 0.188, p= 0.045) in elderly. Interpersonal functioning and business-professional scores were lower in the individulas who were using the auxiliary devices (respectively X2=12.405, p= 0.03 and X2=25.674, p= 0.00). The individuals who live alone were more socially withdrawn than the others (X2= 41 289, p = 0.00). Results Life satisfaction and social functioning in elderly were affected from each other in high levels.