Abstract
Objective: As Iran has started to experience population ageing, it is important to consider the elderly needs and health. The purpose of this study was to examine the structural relationships between social support, quality of life and social health in Iranian older adults. Method: The research was a survey-based cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 800 non-institutionalized older adults living in Lorestan province in Iran in 2018. Three questionnaires were employed to collect data including social health, social support and quality of life. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 and Amos 8 softwares. Results: The majority of the participants were men (51%) and 62% of the participants were married. The most of older adults had moderate or poor economic status. Having insurance and higher income significantly correlated with higher quality of life and social health (p<0.05). The direct effect of all three variables including social support on social health, and social support on quality of life and social health on quality of life were significant. The final model indicated that 39% of the overall variance of quality of life was attributed to social support and social health. Conclusion: Findings confirm the importance of social networks and services in the life of older adults. Indeed, to improve quality of life and social health, it is needed to pay much more attention to all aspects of social support.
Highlights
Ageing population has progressed furthest in developed countries but developing countries have begun to experience considerable increases in their older adults(1, 2)
Studies have shown an association between increased levels of social support and reduced risk for physical disease, mental illness, and mortality(8) Social support includes real or perceived resources provided by others that enable a person to feel cared for, valued, and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation(9) Social support can be critical for those older adults who rely on family, friends, or organizations to assist them with daily activities, provide companionship, and care for their well-being
Forty eight percent of social health changes are explained by social support
Summary
Ageing population has progressed furthest in developed countries but developing countries have begun to experience considerable increases in their older adults(1, 2). While the proportion of people with 60 years old and above in Iran was 5.4 percent in 1975 it will increase to 10.5 percent in 2025 and 21.7 percent in 2050 (3). According to Iran’s National Census 2015, Lorestan province has 1760000 people, out of them, about 179000 people aged over the 60 years old. The average population of the older adults in this province is more than 10%, which is higher than the average population of elderly people in the Iran (4). To promote elderlies' quality of life it is vital to anticipate requirements and address their growing needs (5).According to a survey, 25 to 30% of the elderly in Iran did not benefit from any medical insurance services(6). Many of Studies have shown an association between increased levels of social support and reduced risk for physical disease, mental illness, and mortality(8) Social support includes real or perceived resources provided by others that enable a person to feel cared for, valued, and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation(9) Social support can be critical for those older adults who rely on family, friends, or organizations to assist them with daily activities, provide companionship, and care for their well-being
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