Background
This study aims to explore the roles of psychological resilience and subjective well-being as multiple mediators in the relationship between social alienation and the ability for self-care in elderly individuals living alone in rural areas, particularly focusing on the empty-nest segment of this population.
Methods
From February 17, 2021, to April 20, 2023, A multistage stratified sampling approach was utilized to conduct a survey among 425 elderly individuals (aged 60 and above) living in rural areas without the company of their children, commonly referred to as 'empty-nesters'. These participants were recruited from rural areas of Liaoning Province, China. The questionnaire included the Generalized Social Alienation Scale, the Psychological Resilience Scale, the Subjective Well-being Scale, and the Self-care Ability In Old Age Scale. The analysis was designed to define the characteristics of the sample. We employed linear regression to examine how social alienation influences self-care capabilities in the elderly. To assess the compound mediating effects of psychological resilience and subjective well-being, the PROCESS macro (Model 6) was utilized.
Results
Social alienation significantly impacts self-care ability in the elderly living alone in rural areas, with a direct effect size of β = -0.678 (95% CI = -0.750–0.607), accounting for 66.67% of the total influence. Additionally, three indirect pathways play a role in shaping self-care ability in old age: 1) The psychological resilience route, contributing 42.37% of the total effect (β=-0.431, 95% CI=-0.515–-0.350); 2) The subjective well-being route, adding 4.32% to the total effect (β = 0.044, 95% CI = 0.010–0.089); and 3) A combined pathway involving both psychological resilience and subjective well-being, which adds 4.71% to the overall effect (β = 0.048, 95% CI = 0.029–0.073). The cumulative mediating effect of these pathways is 33.33%.
Conclusions
In rural areas, the well-being and self-care capabilities of older adults living alone are significantly influenced by their psychological resilience and sense of subjective well-being. As such, it's imperative for healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders to focus on the mental health and psychological resilience of these individuals. By doing so, and by prioritizing their subjective well-being, targeted interventions can be effectively implemented to bolster the resilience and overall happiness of these elderly members of our rural communities.
