The Relationship Among Social Support, Physical Activity, Subjective Well-being and Well-dying of Chinese Older Adults

Abstract

PURPOSE Based on theoretical evidence and literature review, this study proposes research hypotheses and establishes a structural equation model (SEM) that includes variables such as social support, physical activity, loneliness, subjective well-being, and well-dying. METHOD The research was using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, and the subjects are Chinese older adults over 65 years old. A total of 730 valid questionnaires are recovered. RESULT Results show that, each item of the factor loading between .700 to .910 of the structural equation model, and the model fitting index is good. The path coefficients reach significance level, and the mediation effect test shows that physical activity by two variables loneliness and subjective well-being have obvious effects on well-dying, these indicate that the hypothesis of this study have been accepted. CONCLUSION The relationship between variables can be expressed as: social support and physical activity have a positive influence on the loneliness and subjective well-being older adults, while loneliness has a negative influence on the subjective well-being and well-dying of older adults. Social support subjective well-being and physical activity have direct or indirect positive effects on well-dying. Among these variables, loneliness has a significant influence on well-dying awareness of older adults, and subjective well-being is another important factor, loneliness is also a key variable that reduces the subjective well-being and quality of life of older adults, and the lack of necessary social support is the main cause for the loneliness of older adults.