A Structural Model of Social Isolation Based on Lifestyle and Self-Efficacy Mediated by Perceived Social Support in the Elderly

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.

3 Professor, Department of Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Introduction: Transitioning into old age is a significant milestone that can profoundly impact health behaviors, overall health, and quality of life. This study aims to examine the structural model of loneliness and social isolation in the elderly, focusing on the roles of lifestyle and self-efficacy, with perceived social support as a mediating factor.
Method: This study employed a descriptive research method with a correlational design, specifically utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population comprised elderly individuals aged over 60 years residing in nursing homes in Tehran during 2022 and 2023. A sample of 300 elderly residents was selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique. Loneliness was measured using the DiTommaso Loneliness Questionnaire (2004), social isolation was assessed with the Lubben Social Network Scale for the elderly (1988), lifestyle was evaluated using the Iranian Elderly Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire developed by Eshaghi et al. (2009), self-efficacy was measured by the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-17) by Sherer et al. (1982), and perceived social support was assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) by Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, and Farley (1998). Data analysis was conducted using SEM with AMOS software.
Result: The total path coefficients between lifestyle (P = 0.001, β = -0.520) and self-efficacy (P = 0.001, β = -0.329) with social isolation were negative and significant. The path coefficient between social support and social isolation was also negative and significant (P = 0.001, β = -0.370). Additionally, the indirect path coefficients between lifestyle (P = 0.001, β = -0.200) and self-efficacy (P = 0.001, β = -0.129) with social isolation were negative and significant.
Discussion and Conclusion: Perceived social support significantly and negatively mediates the relationship between lifestyle and self-efficacy and social isolation among the elderly.

Keywords

References

  • Steptoe, , Shankar, A., Demakakos, P., Wardle, J. Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023; 110(15): 5797-801. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1219686110
  • Murphy, E. The prognosis of depression in old age. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2023; 142(2): 111-9. https://doi.org/1192/S0007125000122767
  • Lee, J. W, Nersesian, P. V., Suen, J. J., Mensah Cudjoe, T. K., Gill, J., Szanton, S. L., & Hladek, M. D. Loneliness is associated with lower coping self-efficacy among older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2023; 42(2): 270-279.‏ https://doi.org/1177/07334648221129858
  • Savikko, N., Routasalo, P., Tilvis, R. S., Strandberg, T., Pitkälä, K. Predictors and subjective causes of loneliness in an aged population. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2024; 41(3): 223-33. https://doi.org/1016/j.archger.2005.03.002
  • Visser, M. A., El Fakiri, F. The prevalence and impact of risk factors for ethnic differences in loneliness. European Journal of Public Health, 2024; 26(6): 977-83. https://doi.org/1093/eurpub/ckw115
  • Velten, J., Bieda, A., Scholten, S., Wannemüller, A., & Margraf, J. Lifestyle choices and mental health: a longitudinal survey with German and Chinese students. BMC Public Health, 2023; 18(1): 1-15. https://doi.org/1186/s12889-018-5526-2
  • Taylor, H. O., Taylor, R. J., Nguyen, A. W., Chatters, L. Social isolation, depression, and psychological distress among older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 2018; 30(2): 229-46. https://doi.org/1177/0898264316673511
  • Smith, K. J., & Victor, C. Typologies of loneliness, living alone and social isolation, and their associations with physical and mental health. Ageing & Society, 2024; 39(8): 1709-1730.‏ https://doi.org/3390/ijerph17249181
  • Hawthorne, H. Measuring social isolation in older adults: development and initial validation of the friendship scale. Social Indicators Research, 2021; 77(1): 521-548. https://doi.org/1007/s11205-005-7746-y
  • Xo, Q., Anderson, D., Country, M. A longitudinal study of the relationship between lifestyle and mental health among midlife and older women in Australia. Health Care for Woman International, 2021; 13(12): 1082-96. https://doi.org/1080/07399332.2010.486096
  • Henrich, L. M., Gullone, E. The clinical significance of loneliness: A literature review. Clinical Psychology Review, 2019; 26(3): 695-718. https://doi.org/1016/j.cpr.2006.04.002
  • H. O., Taylor, R. J., Nguyen, A. W., and Chatters, L. Social isolation, depression and psychological distress among older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 2020; 30(2): 229-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264316673511
  • Matthews, G. A., Nieh, E. H., Vander Weele, C. M., Halbert, S. A., Pradhan, R.V., Yosafat, A. S., et al. Dorsal raphe dopamine neurons represent the experience of social isolation. Cell, 2019; 164(4): 617-31. https://doi.org/1016/j.cell.2015.12.040
  • Silverman, S. L., Minshall, M. E., Shen, W., Harper, K. D., Xie, S. The relationship of health-related quality of life to prevalent and incident vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Results from the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene Evaluation Study. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 2021; 44(11): 2611-9. https://doi.org/1002/1529-0131(200111)44:11<2611::aid-art441>3.0.co;2-n
  • Kapadia, F., Levy, M., Griffin-Tomas, M., Greene, R. E., Halkitis, S.N., Urbina A, & Halkitis, P N. Perceived social support and mental health states in a clinic-based sample of older HIV positive Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services, 2021; 15(4): 417-427. https://doi.org/10.1080/15381501.2016.1212295
  • Bandura, A. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control, 2001; New York: W. H. Freeman. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2004-12705-094
  • Pignault, A., Rastoder, M., Houssemand, C. The Relationship between Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, and Career Decision-Making Difficulties: Psychological Flourishing as a Mediator. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ, 2023; 13(9): 1553-1568. https://doi.org/3390/ejihpe13090113
  • Zhou, A., Liu, J., Xu, C., Jobe, M. C. Effect of Social Support on Career Decision-Making Difficulties: The Chain Mediating Roles of Psychological Capital and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy. Behav Sci (Basel), 2024; 14(4): 318-326. https://doi.org/3390/bs14040318
  • Simundic, A., Argento, A., Mettler, J., Heath, N. L. Perceived Social Support and Connectedness in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Engagement. Psychol Rep, 2024; 21(3): 109-112. https://doi.org/1177/00332941241254323
  • Kähkönen O, Paukkonen L, Vähänikkilä H, Oikarinen A. Perceived social support among percutaneous coronary intervention patients over a long-term follow-up period. Nurs Open. 2024; 11(2): 208-219. https://doi.org/1002/nop2.2087
  • DiTommaso, E., Brannen, C., & Best, L. A. Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults--Short Version (SELSA-S) [Database record]. 2004; APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/1037/t05855-000
  • Jokar, F., Asadollahi, A. R., Kaveh, M. H., Ghahramani, L., Nazari, M. Relationship of Perceived Social Support with the Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults Living in Rural Communities in Iran. Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing, 2020; 15 (3): 350-365. https://doi.org/32598/sija.10.15.3.2773.2 [In Persian].
  • Tavakoli Ghuchani H, Lashkardoust H, Khankalabi M, Asghari D, Hekmat Ara A, Nabavi H. Validity and reliability of Persian version of Luben's six-question social network scale in elderly people, Journal of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, 2020; 12(2): 43-57. https://civilica.com/doc/1889143/ [In Persian].
  • Movahed, M., Enayat, H., Zanjari, N. Healthy Ageing: A Comparative Analysis of Health Promoting Lifestyle among Elderly Males and Females in Shiraz. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Journal of Social Sciences, 2015; 12(1): 197-223. https://doi.org/22067/jss.v12i1.17888 [In Persian].
  • Schwarzer, R., Jerusalem, M. Generalized Self-Efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, & M. Johnston, Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. Causal and control beliefs, 1998; 12(1): 35-37. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304930542_Generalized_Self-Efficacy_Scale
  • Zimet, G. D, Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., Farley, G. K. The multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Journal of personality assessment, 1988; 52(1): 30-41. https://doi.org/1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
  • Meuleman, E. M., van der Veld, W. M., Laceulle, O. M., van der Heijden, P. T., Verhagen, M. van Ee E. Youth Perceived Social Support and Symptom Distress: A Random-Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model. J Youth Adolesc, 2024; 53(1): 117-129. https://doi.org/1007/s10964-023-01859-7
  • Chen, W. T., Huang, F., Shiu, C. S., Lin, S., Tun, M. S., new, T. W., Oo, Y. T. N,, Oo, H. N. Can social support mediate stigma and perceived stress in people live with human immunodeficiency virus? AIDS Care, 2024; 36(2): 255-262. https://doi.org/1080/09540121.2023.2254545
  • Rostami, M., Hashemi, T., Aliloo, M‌. M. Comparison of personality traits, social support and religious orientation in people attempting to commit suicide and control group, Studies in Medical Sciences, 2014; 24 (12)‌: 1016-1026. http://umj.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-2065-fa.html [In Persian].
  • Stenberg, J., Hjelm, K. Social support as perceived, provided and needed by family-members of migrants with type 2 diabetes - a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 2024; 24(1): 1612-1619. https://doi.org/1186/s12889-024-19101-9
  • Kline, R. B. Principles and practice of structural equation modeling, 2016; New York: Guilford. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-56948-000

 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics