Abstract
Background and Objective: 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 and 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.
Results: 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.