Social support as a predictor of health status among older adults living alone in Japan

2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiko Saito ◽  
Yoko Sagawa ◽  
Katsuko Kanagawa
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Living Alone

scholarly journals Loneliness, hopelessness and suicide in later life: a case–control psychological autopsy study in rural China

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Niu ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
Elderly Suicide

Abstract Aims Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a serious public health issue worldwide. However, there is scarce research addressing the association between loneliness and suicide in older adults in rural China. We set out to examine loneliness and other psychosocial factors in elderly suicide cases and explore their interaction effects. Methods Using a 1 : 1 matched case–control design, data were collected from 242 elderly suicide cases and 242 living community controls by psychological autopsy method in rural China, including demographic characteristics, loneliness, depression, hopelessness and social support. The chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) tree model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationships of these factors and suicide. Results The CHAID tree model showed that loneliness, hopelessness and depressive symptoms were closely associated with completed suicide and that loneliness and hopelessness interacted with each other. The result of multivariable logistic regression showed that individuals who were unemployed [odds ratio (OR) = 2.344; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.233–4.457], living alone (OR = 2.176; 95% CI: 1.113–4.254), had lower levels of subjective social support (OR = 2.185; 95% CI: 1.243–3.843), experienced depressive symptoms (OR = 6.700; 95% CI: 3.405–13.182), showed higher levels of hopelessness (OR = 7.253; 95% CI: 3.764–13.974) and felt higher levels of hopelessness × higher levels of loneliness (OR = 2.446; 95% CI: 1.089–5.492) were significantly associated with an elevated suicide risk in older people in rural China. Conclusions Regular evaluation of loneliness, hopelessness and depression can help detect older adults who are at risk of committing suicide. Interventions should target social support systems, particularly among people living alone, to alleviate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Treating depression is also key to preventing suicide among elderly people in rural China.

scholarly journals Predictive Role of Psychosocial Factors in Older Adults Life Satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Papi ◽  
Maria Cheraghi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Predictive Role ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background: The older adults are a part of society whose population is increasing as science progresses and health conditions improve. Social, psychological and behavioral factors will be influenced on life satisfaction in older adults. We aimed to predictive role of psychosocial factors in life satisfaction older adults. Methods: It was a descriptive-analytical study which has conducted on 679 older adults through convenience sampling from Qom city during 2018. The data were collected using demographic characteristics, life satisfaction, well-being, cognitive status, social support, and daily activities of life. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 and independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: The mean and standard deviation of older adults age was 70.43 ± 7.62 years. The mean life satisfaction score was 13.77 ± 3.73. The results showed a significant relationship between job and education with life satisfaction (P <0.001). The results also showed that social support (P= 0.001) and daily activities (P= 0.017) significantly predict the level of life satisfaction, and the dimensions of health (P= 0.001) and cognitive status (P= 0.007) have a larger share in predicting the satisfaction of older adults life. Conclusion: We found that some parts of life changes in older adults can be predicted with the help of social support, health status, cognitive status, and everyday life activities. Therefore, in order to increase the level of satisfaction of older adults life, it is suggested that the field of promotion of social support, health status, and cognitive status be provided.

scholarly journals Loneliness, Social Support, and Psychological Wellbeing Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1046-1046
Author(s):  
Poshan Dahal ◽  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth Bhatta ◽  
Polina Ermoshkina
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Retirement Community ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Negative Affects ◽  
Lower Life Satisfaction

Abstract Social support in old age has been linked to psychological wellbeing outcomes, such as depressive symptoms. However, insufficient attention has been paid to implications of social support for different domains of psychological wellbeing. In this study, we explored these associations among 797 older adults (mean age = 78.61 years) living in a retirement community in Florida from the ECRC study. Our findings show that measures of social support and connectedness have varying influences on psychological wellbeing. Loneliness was associated with lower life satisfaction (b=- -1.12, p&lt;0.001) and higher depressive symptoms (b=3.52, p&lt;0.001). Higher self-rated social support was associated with higher life satisfaction (b= 1.66, p&lt;0.001) but did not predict depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms, however, were significantly higher (b=-1.45) among individuals who reported that they don’t have anyone who they can turn to if they feel lonely and want to talk. Feeling lonely also predicted lower positive affects among these older adults (b=-0.65, p&lt;0.001). Similarly, loneliness also predicted higher negative affects (b=1.28, p&lt;0.001). Negative affects were also significantly higher among women (b=-1.15, p&lt;0.001) but lower among those who were living alone (b=-1.06, p&lt;0.001). Overall, our findings underscore the importance of social support and connectedness for psychological wellbeing in later life. This finding is consistent with prior research demonstrating significance of social support in later life for the overall psychological wellbeing of the older adults.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Functional Health Literacy, Self-Rated Health, and Social Support between Younger and Older Adults in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
pp. 3188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padmore Amoah
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Functional Health Literacy ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
The Impact

It is well established that health literacy positively affects health outcomes, and social support influences this association. What remains unclear is which aspect of social support (instrumental, informational, and emotional support) is responsible for this effect and whether the influence differs from one population group to another. This study addresses these lacunae. It examines the impact each type of support makes on the relation between functional health literacy (FHL) and self-rated health status among younger and older adults in Ghana. Data were pooled from two cross-sectional surveys, together comprising 521 participants in the Ashanti Region. The results indicated that young adults were more likely to possess sufficient FHL and perceive their health more positively than older adults. While FHL was positively associated with health status, the relation was stronger when young adults received a high level of emotional support. Among older persons, informational support substantially moderated the association between FHL and health status. Thus, social support modifies the relations between FHL and health status among younger and older adults in different ways and to different degrees. Therefore, interventions to improve FHL and health amongst younger and older adults should pay due regard to relevant aspects of social support.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Social Isolation Among Older Adults: The Singapore Chinese Health Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 168-168
Author(s):  
Jon Barrenetxea ◽  
Yang Yi ◽  
Woon Puay Koh ◽  
Feng Qiushi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Singapore Chinese

Abstract Social isolation is a determinant of mortality and well-being among older people. Factors associated with isolation could be different in societies where older adults live mainly with family, as individuals might feel isolated despite living with others. We studied the factors associated with isolation among 16,948 older adults from follow-up 3 of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a population-based cohort of older Singapore Chinese (mean age of 73, range: 61-96 years). We defined social isolation as having “zero hour per week” of participation in social activities involving 3 or more people and scoring the lowest decile on the Duke Social Support Scale of perceived social support. We used multivariable logistic regressions to compute odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for factors associated with likelihood of social isolation. Although only 14.4% of isolated participants lived alone, living alone remained a significant factor associated with isolation (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.58-2.35), together with cognitive impairment (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.46-2.04) and depression (OR 2.44, 95% CI 2.12-2.80). Higher education level was inversely associated with isolation (p for trend&lt;0.001). In stratified analysis, among those living alone, compared to women, men had higher odds of social isolation (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.43-3.32) than among those not living alone (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84-1.17) (p for interaction&lt;0.001). Our results showed that living alone, cognitive impairment and depression were indicators of isolation among older Singaporeans. In addition, among those living alone, men were more likely to experience social isolation than women.

scholarly journals Lonely in the City–Sociodemographic Status and Somatic Morbidities as Predictors of Loneliness and Depression among Seniors–Preliminary Results

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7213
Author(s):  
Kasper Sipowicz ◽  
Marlena Podlecka ◽  
Łukasz Mokros ◽  
Tadeusz Pietras
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Sociodemographic Data ◽  
The City

Up to a third of the population of older adults has been estimated to suffer from feelings of loneliness, which is considered a risk factor of depression. The aim of this paper is to compare the perceived level of loneliness and depression in seniors living in the country and in the cities and assess somatic morbidity and sociodemographic status as predictors of loneliness and depressiveness. n = 92 older adults in primary care units filled out a set of questionnaires: authors’ survey on sociodemographic data and morbidities, Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI, to measure depressiveness) and De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS, to assess loneliness). There was a strong, positive and statistically significant correlation between the BDI and DJGLS scores (R = 0.855, p < 0.001). City residents had on average higher BDI and DJGLS scores. Linear regression models were constructed to predict BDI and DJGLS scores. The set of statistically significant predictors were similar for BDI and DJGLS. Sociodemographic status and somatic morbidities accounted for around 90% of variance of depressiveness and loneliness scores in the studied group. Living alone was found to be the strongest relative predictor of both loneliness and depressiveness in the studied sample of the older adults. Our current results suggest that there might be a need to improve social support in the late adulthood as an intervention to diminish the sense of loneliness and depressiveness.

scholarly journals Association Between Perceived Social Support and Mental Health Status Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-154
Author(s):  
Shima Nazari ◽  
◽  
Pouya Farokhnezhad Afshar ◽  
Leila Sadegh Moghdada ◽  
Alireza Namazi Shabestari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Mental Health Status ◽  
Community Dwelling

Introduction: The elderly need social support to reduce their physical and mental disabilities. Perceived social support is one of the effective factors in the lifestyle of older adults. Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between perceived social support and mental health status among older adults. Materials and Methods: This research is a cross-sectional analytical study. The study data were collected using a perceived social support (PSS) scale and general health questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). A total of 302 eligible older adults were selected through a random sampling method from primary health centers in the north, south, east, west, and center of Tehran. The inclusion criteria were those community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years and with normal cognitive abilities. The collected data were analyzed using t test, ANOVA, the Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean ±SD age of older adults was 70.01 ±6.29 years. Their mean ±SD scores of the PSS and GHQ-12 were 130.95 ±16.05 and 7.29 ±5.55, respectively. The results showed no significant relationship between demographic variables and PSS. There was a significant inverse correlation between the PSS score and the GHQ-12 score (P= 0.01, r= -0.878). The PSS explained 0.66 of the total variances of “positively phrased items” of GHQ-12 (adjusted R2= 0.66) and 0.76 of the total variances of “negatively phrased items” of GHQ-12 (adjusted R2= 0.76). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the PSS and mental health are at a desirable level in this study, and the PSS is not affected by demographic variables. The PSS is a promoting factor for mental health status among older adults.

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