The Study of Relationship between Social Support and Quality of Life among Elderly People in Kerman

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Sociology.Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Social Medicine. Department of Community Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.

3 M.Sc. of Sociology.Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objective: As the economic and health status are improving, elderly population are increasing But, it is clear that increased longevity is not per se is sign of development, quality of life is more important. Quality of life of elderly people is influenced by several factors, one of the most important is social support. Previous researches showed that along with increase in social support, elderly people`s quality of life is improved. The aim of this research is finding the relationship between social support and quality of life of the ledelry in the city Kerman, Iran.
Subjects and Methods: This survey was performed among 383 elderly men and women living in the city of Kerman. The research tool was a questionnaire with interview; SF36 questionnaire was used for scaling quality of life and a researcher made questionnaire for measuring social support.
Results:Themost important supporters were, in the first degree, was wife/husband followed by then son and, in third degree, daughter. Mean score of physical quality of life was more than average mental health score. The results showed that emotional support, financial services, advisory and information, and age are all the components of quality of life.
Conclusion: According to these findings, increase in the types of social support, especially emotional support, can be of a great help for improvement in the quality of life for seniors. Of course, elderly people need economic and other supportive services in addition to emotional support.

Keywords

References

1-Mirzaee  M , Shamsegha Farokhi M. [Demography of aged people in Iran on the public  census  of people and residence (1956-2006)]. Salmand (Iranian Journal  of Aging ) 2007;2( 5):326-31. [In Persian]
2-Statistical center of Iran. [The detailed account results of public census  of people and residence in Iran 2006]. Tehran: Statistical center of Iran; 2006. [In Persian]
3-Yen CF, Kuo CY, Tsai PT, Ko CH, Yen JY, Chen TT. Correlations of quality of life with adverse effects of medication, social support, course of illness, psychopathology, and demographic characteristics in patients with panic disorder. Depress Anxiety 2007;24(8):563-70.
4-Aneshensel CS, Stone JD. Stress and depression: a test of the buffering model of social support. Arch Gen Psychiartry 1982;39(12):1392-6.
5-Thoits PA. Conceptual, methodological, and theoretical problems in studying social support as a buffer against life stress. J Health Soc Behav 1982;23(2):145-59.
6-Cohen S. psychosocial models of the role of social support in the etiology of physical disease. Health psychol 1988;7(3):269-97.
7-WrightK KB, Bell SB. Health-related Support Groups on the internet: Linking Empirical Findings to Social Support and Computer-mediated Communication Theory. J Health psychol 2003;8(1):39-54.
8-Pasha GH.R ,Safarzadeh S, Mashak  R. [General health and social support in two groups of elders living in nursing homes and with families]. Journal of Family Research 2007;3(9):503-17. [In Persian]
9-Pourmohammad Rezaei Tajrishi M, Mirzamani Bafghi SM. [The relationship among brain/behavioral systems, social support and depression]. Social Welfare 2007;7(26):223-45.[In Persian]
10-Vangelisti A. Challenges in conceptualizing social support. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 2009;26(1):39-51.
11-VonDras D, Madey SF. The attainment of important health goals throughout adulthood: an integration of the theory of planned behavior and aspects of social support. Int J Agimg Hum Dev 2004;59(3):205-34.
12-Janevic MR, Janz NK, Dodge JA, Wang Y, Lin X, Clark NM. Longitudinal effects of social support on the healt and functioning of older women with heart disease. Int J Agimg Hum Dev 2004;59(2):158-75.
13-Kim JE, Nesselroade JR. Relationships among social support, self-concept, and wellbeing of older adults: a study of process using dynamic factor models. Int J Behav Dev 2003;27(1):49-65.
14-Albou Kordi  M, Ramezani  MA, Arizi  F. [A study on quality of life among elderly Shahinshahr area of Isfahan province in year 2004]. Sci Med J 2007;5(4):701-7. [In Persian]
15-Ahmadi F, Salar A, Faghihzadeh S. Quality of life in Zahedan elderly population. Hayat 2004;10(3):61-7. [In Persian]
16-Nejati V, Ashayeri H. [Health related quality of life in the elderly in Kashan]. Iranian Journal  of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology 2008;14(1):56-61. [In Persian]
17-Alipour  F,Sajadi  H  ,Forouzan A, Biglarian  A. [The role of social support in elderly quality of life]. Social Welfare 2009;9(33):147-65. [In Persian]
18-Salarvand Sh, Abedi H, Hosseini HA, Salehi Sh, Keivanara M. [The emotional experience of elderly people  regarding the process of residency  in nursing home]. Iranian Journal of nursing 2007;20(49):61-71.[In Persian]
19-Montazeri A, Goshtasebi A,Vahdaninia M, Gandek B. The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36): translation and validation study of the Iranian version. Qual life Res 2005;14(3):875-82.
20-Heydari S ,Salahshourian-fard A , Rafiee F, Hoseini F. [Correlation of perceived social support and size of social network with quality of life dimention in cancer patients]. Feyz 2008;12(2):17-25.[In Persian]
21-Bazrafshan MR, Hosseini MA, Rahgozar M, Maddah  B. [Quality of life  in elderly women  Jahandidegan daily association members in Shiraz city1386]. Salmand (Iranian Journal  of Aging) 2008;3(7):33-41.[ In Persian]
22-Habibi Soula  A, Nikpour S, Seyedoshohadaei  M, Haghani H. [Health promoting behaviors and its related factors in elderly]. Iran journal of nursing 2006;19(47):35-48.[In Persian]
23-Lee TW, Ko IS, lee KJ. Health promotion behaviors and quality of life among community-dwelling elderly in Korea: a cross-sectional survey. Int J Nurs Stud 2006;43(3):293-300.
24-Baider L, Ever-Hadani  P, Goldzweig  G, Wygoda  MR, Peretz T. Is perceived family support a relevant  variable in psychological distress?. A sample of prostate and breast cancer couples. J Psychosom  Res 2003;55(5):453-60.
25-Campbell  HS, Phaneuf  MR, Deane K. Cancer peer support programs- do they work? Patient Educ  Couns 2004;55(1):3-15.
26-Krause N. Stress and the devaluation of highly salient roles in late life. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 1999;54(2):S99-108.
27-Riahi ME.[Comparative study of the position and statues of elderly in the past and contemporary societies]. Salmand (Iranian Journal  of Aging ) 2008;3(9-10):7-18. [ In Persian]
Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal
Volume 11, Issue 3 - Serial Number 78
July and August 2017
Pages 303-315

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 07 August 2011
  • Revise Date: 25 January 2012
  • Accept Date: 27 February 2012

Share

How to cite

Statistics