The relationship between social health and perceived social support, quality of life, well being, successful aging in people aged 60 and over

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between perceived social support, quality of life, well-being and successful aging with social health in people aged 60 and over in Paşaalanı neighborhood in Balıkesir city center. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Paşaalanı neighborhood in Balıkesir province between October 2021 and February 2022. The sample size was calculated as 535 people at 95% confidence level by accepting the population as 13390 people, 50% prevalence, 5% deviation, 1.5% pattern effect with Epiinfo 7.0 program and 535 people were reached by multi-stage sampling method. The dependent variable of the study was the level of Social Health for the Elderly. In univariate analyses, t-test, ANOVA (posthoc: Tukey HSD) and linear regression analysis were used in advanced analyses. The mean score of WHO-5 Wellbeing Index was 16.91±5.67, the mean score of Successful Aging Status was 51.74±12.48, the mean score of EQ5D General Life Quality was 69.18±18.77, the mean score of Perceived Social Support was 74.04±12.74, and the mean score of Social Health for the Elderly was 50.00±10.00. Based on linear regression analysis, the Social Health for the Elderly Scale score was significantly lower in those who were not married (β:-4.441; 95% CI -6.62; -2.22), employed (β:-7.703; 95% CI -13.72; -1.67), had no hobbies (β:-4.822; 95% CI -6.29; -3.34), and had poor general health perception (β:-1.915; 95% CI -2.66; -0.16). As the Social Health for the Elderly score increases with age (β:-0.210; 95% CI -0.36; -0.05), as the Successful Aging Scale score decreases (β:0.126; 95% CI 0.05; 0.19), as the EQ5D General Quality of Life Scale score decreases (β:15. 479; 95% CI 8.10; 22.85), Perceived Social Support Scale score decreases (β:0.132; 95% CI 0.07; 0.19), Social Health Scale for the Elderly score decreases significantly (Adjusted R2=0.457, F=50.334, p<0.001). The social health of the participants was moderate. It is recommended to prioritize disadvantaged groups in order to increase social health and to carry out supportive studies in terms of hobby acquisition, general health status and social support.