Disability Among Older Adults Residing in Poldasht, Iran in 2018: The Role of Social Aupport as A Protective Factor

Abstract

Objectives: The present study examined the role of social support in protecting against disability among older people residing in Poldasht, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran in 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken on 305 older adults who were selected by random sampling method. The World Health Organization standardized disability scale (WHODASS2) and multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) were applied to collect the data. Data analysis was run through a multiple linear regression model by SPSS software, version 23. The significance level was set at P≤0.05. Results: The mean age of older people was 69.13±7.63 years. The highest incidence of disability was in the subscale of community participation (n=111, 36.4%) and mobility (n=111, 36.4%). The results revealed that age (β=0.32, P<0.001), financial status (β=0.14, P=0.002), job (β=-0.18, P=0.02), number of physical illnesses (β=-0.21, P<0.001), and social support (β=-0.17, P<0.001) were predictive factors of disability among older people. Discussion: The results showed a high prevalence of disability among older people. Given the protective role of social support in reducing disability, it is suggested to consider this cost-effective factor in attempts to deal with disability and then promote the quality of life of this vulnerable group.

Relationship between perceived social support and disability with the mediating role of perceived stress among older adults

“…Feng et al (2014) demonstrated that an increase in perceived social support could reduce functional disability among individuals aged 75 years and higher [ 22 ]. Furthermore, Ghasemi et al (2022) reported that social support is a protective factor against disability among older adults [ 16 ]. Social support plays a crucial role in boosting an individual’s ability to cope with stress and become more resilient [ 40 ].…”

“…Social support can have a positive impact on psychological well-being by promoting positive thinking and healthy behaviors during stressful situations [ 42 ]. Perceived social support can enhance an individual’s ability to manage stress and difficult situations, ultimately leading to a better quality of life [ 16 , 43 ]. The buffer-stress hypothesis suggests that social support can protect individuals from stressors by enhancing their coping abilities.…”

“…Social support is crucial for the well-being of older adults as it provides emotional reinforcement, improves health-promoting behaviors, and facilitates friendly relationships [ 14 , 15 ]. As older adults experience declines in their physical, cognitive, and mental abilities, they require more social support [ 16 ].…”

“…Social support can help individuals cope with stress and lead to fewer psychological and physical symptoms and illnesses by providing emotional and informational support [ 21 ]. In this regard, Ghasemi et al (2018) [ 16 ] showed that perceived social support can protect against disability in older adults. Furthermore, Feng et al (2014) [ 22 ] found that social support plays a mediating role in the relationship between disability and psychological distress in older adults.…”

“…In the past two decades, Iranian older population has grown significantly from 1.7% to over 3% [ 25 ]. Therefore, the number of older adults with disabilities is likely to increase rapidly over the coming decades [ 16 , 26 ]. Given that, the prevention of the consequences of disability is vital and limited studies have assessed the disability and its related factors in Iran, this study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and disability with the mediating role of perceived stress (Fig.…”