The effect of difficulty adjusting to old age on social exclusion and quality of life in elderly individuals

Objective: This research; It was conducted to examine the effect of difficulty adapting to old age on social exclusion and quality of life in individuals over 65 years of age. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted cross-sectionally. The population of the research consisted of 905 elderly individuals over the age of 65 who were registered at Balakgazi Family Health Center No. 1 in the Central district of Elazığ province. The sample size of the study was calculated as 420 people by power analysis. The Elderly Adaptation Difficulty Scale, the Elderly Social Exclusion Scale, and the Elderly Quality of Life Scale were used to collect data. Data was collected between March 2024 and July 2024. The collected data were evaluated using the SPSS 27 package program. Results: Elderly individuals participating in the study; The average of Adaptation Difficulty Scale scores in the elderly is 19.8±13.931, the Average the Social Exclusion Scale scores in the elderly is 53.10±14.045, and the Average of the Quality of Life Scale scores in the elderly is 69.01±10.815. It was determined that adaptation difficulties in the elderly had a 34% impact on social exclusion and an 11% impact on the quality of life in the elderly. Conclusion: It has been observed that adaptation difficulties and its sub-dimensions have an impact on the social exclusion and quality of life of the elderly, and that demographic characteristics have a limited effect on the quality of life and social exclusion of the elderly. The results obtained in this direction will increase the quality of life of elderly individuals, reduce the risk of social exclusion, and may contribute to a more inclusive and supportive structure for all segments of society. Keywords: Adaptation, Old Age, Quality of Life, Social Exclusion, Public health nursing