@2024 Afarand., IRAN
ISSN: 2383-2150 Journal of Education and Community Health 2017;4(3):19-25
ISSN: 2383-2150 Journal of Education and Community Health 2017;4(3):19-25
The Relationship between Social Isolation and Health among the Tehranian Elderly
ARTICLE INFO
Article Type
Original ResearchAuthors
Seyfzadeh Ali (1)Haghighatian Mansoor (*)
Mohajerani Aliasghar (1)
(*) Department of Sociology, Dehaghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dehaghan, Iran
(1) Department of Sociology, Dehaghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dehaghan, Iran
(1) Department of Sociology, Dehaghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dehaghan, Iran
Correspondence
Address: -Phone: -
Fax: -
mansour_haghighatian@yahoo.com
Article History
Received: September 7, 2017Accepted: December 21, 2017
ePublished: December 21, 2017
ABSTRACT
Aims
Due to the growing elderly population and the increasing age-related disabilities, considering age-related social isolation and the role of health is important. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social isolation and health in the elderly in Tehran, Iran.
Materials & Methods This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted in 2017 among 382 elderlies aged 65 years old and above in Tehran, Iran. The participants were selected through the multi-stage cluster sampling method. The data collection tool was Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADL), and Keizer Social Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 using descriptive and analytical statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient.
Findings Overall, 52.4% of the respondents had physical health, 56.8% had social health, and 60.5% had mental health, and the mean social isolation in the elderly was about 62%. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a significant inverse relationship between mental health (P=0.001, r=0.456) and social isolation (P=0.017, r=0.325) among the elderly. In other words, with increasing mental and social health, the sense of social isolation among the elderly is reduced.
Conclusion There is a reverse relationship between health and social isolation in the elderly and having mental and social health can have a positive impact on reducing social isolation among this vulnerable stratum.
Materials & Methods This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted in 2017 among 382 elderlies aged 65 years old and above in Tehran, Iran. The participants were selected through the multi-stage cluster sampling method. The data collection tool was Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADL), and Keizer Social Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 using descriptive and analytical statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient.
Findings Overall, 52.4% of the respondents had physical health, 56.8% had social health, and 60.5% had mental health, and the mean social isolation in the elderly was about 62%. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient indicated a significant inverse relationship between mental health (P=0.001, r=0.456) and social isolation (P=0.017, r=0.325) among the elderly. In other words, with increasing mental and social health, the sense of social isolation among the elderly is reduced.
Conclusion There is a reverse relationship between health and social isolation in the elderly and having mental and social health can have a positive impact on reducing social isolation among this vulnerable stratum.
CITATION LINKS
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[17]Seyfzadeh A. Investigating the elders’ social health and its related factors: a case study of Azarshahr city. J Geriatric Nurs. 2015;1(4):95-106. [Persian]
[18]Chalabi M, Amirkaphi M. Multilevel analysis of social isolation. J Sociol Iran. 2004;5(2):3-31. [Persian]
[19]Kalantari A, Hosseinizadeh Arani S, Sakhaee A, Emamalizadeh H. Isolation and health: survey on the relationship between social isolation and mental health upper 18 Years old citizens; with attention to the mediation role of social support. J Contemporary Soc Res. 2013;4(6):89-116. [Persian]
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[24]Mohseni Tabrizi AR, Razi A. The relationship between social support and mental health among students of Tehran University. Youth Stud Quart. 2007;3(10):83-96. [Persian]
[25]Yazdanpanah L. Barriers to social participation of citizens of Tehran. J Social Welfare. 2007;7(26):105-30. [Persian]
[26]Kalantari A, Hosseinizadeh Araei S. City and social relations: The relationship between the level of social isolation and the level of social support received with the level of loneliness experience. J Urban Soc Stud. 2015;5(16):87-118. [Persian]
[27]Salimi F, Garmaroudi G, Hosseini SM, Batebi A. Effect of self–care educational program to improving quality of life among elderly referred to health centers in Zanjan. J Educ Community Health. 2015;2(2):28-37. [Persian]
[28]Moradi A, Taheri P, Javanbakht F, Taheri A. A meta-analysis on the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran. J Res Behav Sci. 2013;10(6):565-73. [Persian]
[29]Najafi B, Arozaghi M, Fakhrzadeh H, Sharifi F, Shoaie S, Alizadeh M, et al. Mental health status and related factors in aged population: urban health equity assessment and response tool (Urban- HEART) study in Tehran. Iran J Diabetes Metab. 2013;13(1):62-73. [Persian]
[30]Rashedi V, Gharib M, Yazdani AA. Social participation and mental health among older adults in Iran. Iranian Rehabil J. 2014;12(19):9-13. [Persian]
[31]Shoja M, Nabavi SH, Kassani A. Factor analysis of social capital and its relations with mental health of older people in Tehran 9 district. J North Khorasan Univ Med Sci. 2011;3(5):81-90. [Persian]
[32]Findlay R. Interventions to reduce social isolation amongst older people: where is the evidence. Ageing Soc. 2003;23(5):647-58. DOI:10.1017/S0144686X03001296
[2]Sam Aram E. From the west to the nomad house to the private. Soc Sci. 1993;2(3-4):154-65. [Persian]
[3]Taghdisi MH, Doshmangir P, Dehdari T, Doshmangir L. Influencing factors on healthy lifestyle from viewpoint of elderly people: qualitative study. Iran J Ageing. 2013;7(4):47-58. [Persian]
[4]Statistical Center of Iran. Census Results of 2016 Province of Tehran. Tehran: Statistical Center; 2016. [Persian]
[5]Cornwell EY, Waite LJ. Measuring social isolation among older adults using multiple indicators from the NSHAP study. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2009;64(Suppl 1):38-46. PMID: 19508982 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbp037
[6]Hortulatus R, Machielse A, Ludwien M. Social isolation in modern society. Trans: Sarabi F. Tehran: Sociologists Press; 2015. [Persian]
[7]Yazdi Modaresi F. The study of socio-cultural factors of social isolation of girls over 30 years old in Yazd. [Master Thesis]. Yazd: Sociology of Social Sciences Faculty of Yazd University; 2015. [Persian]
[8]Shamsaei F, Cheraghi F, Esmaeili R, Mohsenifard J. Explanation of loneliness in the elderly and comparison with psychosocial development theory: a quantitative study.J Educ Community Health. 2014;1(2):30-8. DOI: 10.20286/jech-010230 [Persian]
[9]Hosseini Ramaghani N, Mir Drikvand F, Panahi H. The role of communication skills, social support and daily spiritual experiences in predicting loneliness feeling of the elderly. J Gerontol. 2017;1(4):47-57. DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.joge.1.4.47 [Persian]
[10]Martina CM, Stevens NL. Breaking the cycle of loneliness? Psychological effects of a friendship enrichment program for older women. Aging Ment Health. 2006;10(5):467-75. PMID: 16938682 DOI: 10.1080/13607860600637893
[11]Parigi P, Henson W. Social isolation in America. Ann Rev Sociol. 2014;40:153-71.
[12]Courtin E, Knapp M. Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: a scoping review. Health Soc Care Community. 2017;25(3):799-812. PMID: 26712585 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12311
[13]Haghighatian M. Effective social factors on social isolation of the youth (Case of study: Isfahan city). J Soc Dev Stud. 2013;5(4):87-98. [Persian]
[14]Burns A, Lavlar Karaji Q. Measuring scales in elderly psychiatric. Trans: Motamedi A. Tehran: Allameh Tabatabaei University Press; 2016. [Persian]
[15]Ebadi M, Harirchi A, Shariati M, Garmaroodi G, Fateh A, MontazeriA. Translation, determining the reliability and validity of the 12-point questionnaire on general health (GHQ-12). J Payesh. 2002;1(3):39-46. [Persian]
[16]Seyfzadeh A. The relationship between perceived social support and health in the elderly adults Case study: Azarshahr. J Gerontol. 2016;1(1):40-7. DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.joge.1.1.56 [Persian]
[17]Seyfzadeh A. Investigating the elders’ social health and its related factors: a case study of Azarshahr city. J Geriatric Nurs. 2015;1(4):95-106. [Persian]
[18]Chalabi M, Amirkaphi M. Multilevel analysis of social isolation. J Sociol Iran. 2004;5(2):3-31. [Persian]
[19]Kalantari A, Hosseinizadeh Arani S, Sakhaee A, Emamalizadeh H. Isolation and health: survey on the relationship between social isolation and mental health upper 18 Years old citizens; with attention to the mediation role of social support. J Contemporary Soc Res. 2013;4(6):89-116. [Persian]
[20]Khajavi D, Parsa Z. The development of psychometric properties of "the elderly's activities of daily life scale". J Motor Learn Movement. 2014;6(1):91-108. [Persian]
[21]Katz S, Down TD, Cash HR, Grotz RC. Progress in the development of the index of ADL". Gerontologist. 1970;10(1):20-30. PMID: 5420677
[22]Hasanisathi M. The study of social and cultural factors affecting the social isolation of the youth aged 15 to 29 in Lordegan. [Master Dissertation]. Dehaghan, Iran: Sociology Branch, Islamic Azad University; 2014. [Persian]
[23]Sheikh M. Sociology of old age. Tehran: Harir Press; 2010. [Persian]
[24]Mohseni Tabrizi AR, Razi A. The relationship between social support and mental health among students of Tehran University. Youth Stud Quart. 2007;3(10):83-96. [Persian]
[25]Yazdanpanah L. Barriers to social participation of citizens of Tehran. J Social Welfare. 2007;7(26):105-30. [Persian]
[26]Kalantari A, Hosseinizadeh Araei S. City and social relations: The relationship between the level of social isolation and the level of social support received with the level of loneliness experience. J Urban Soc Stud. 2015;5(16):87-118. [Persian]
[27]Salimi F, Garmaroudi G, Hosseini SM, Batebi A. Effect of self–care educational program to improving quality of life among elderly referred to health centers in Zanjan. J Educ Community Health. 2015;2(2):28-37. [Persian]
[28]Moradi A, Taheri P, Javanbakht F, Taheri A. A meta-analysis on the relationship between mental health and social support in Iran. J Res Behav Sci. 2013;10(6):565-73. [Persian]
[29]Najafi B, Arozaghi M, Fakhrzadeh H, Sharifi F, Shoaie S, Alizadeh M, et al. Mental health status and related factors in aged population: urban health equity assessment and response tool (Urban- HEART) study in Tehran. Iran J Diabetes Metab. 2013;13(1):62-73. [Persian]
[30]Rashedi V, Gharib M, Yazdani AA. Social participation and mental health among older adults in Iran. Iranian Rehabil J. 2014;12(19):9-13. [Persian]
[31]Shoja M, Nabavi SH, Kassani A. Factor analysis of social capital and its relations with mental health of older people in Tehran 9 district. J North Khorasan Univ Med Sci. 2011;3(5):81-90. [Persian]
[32]Findlay R. Interventions to reduce social isolation amongst older people: where is the evidence. Ageing Soc. 2003;23(5):647-58. DOI:10.1017/S0144686X03001296