Exploring the Interplay of Social Support, Depression, and Quality of Life of Community Older Adults Through Structural Equation Modeling

• Main Authors: Mohd, Tengku Amatullah Madeehah Tengku, Choo, Wan Yuen, Hairi, Farizah Mohd, Hairi, Noran Naqiah, Ahmad, Nur Sakinah, Nordin, Awatef Amer, Ismail, Norliana, Sooryanarayana, Rajini
• Format: Article
• Published: SAGE 2024
• Subjects: RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/45326/; https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395241240967
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Social support (SS) has been widely recognized to have a protective effect influencing older adults' emotional and psychological well-being. This study attempted to determine the relationships of structural SS and functional SS on depression and quality of life among the community-dwelling older adults in the rural and Asian context. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2324 community older adults aged 60 years and above in Kuala Pilah, Malaysia. Participants were recruited via multistage sampling and interviewed face-to-face. The relationships were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Structural SS was associated with functional SS (beta = 0.05). Only functional SS (having a role, knowing what is going on, and having a confidant) was found to be significantly associated with depression (beta = -0.07) and quality of life (physical component beta = 0.08], mental component beta = 0.31]). In summary, functional SS and familial SS should be addressed to reduce depression and improve quality of life among older adults. Community initiatives to increase awareness in optimizing social support should be conducted for quality of life among community older adults.