The Study of Relationship between Social Support and Quality of Life Among Elderly People in Kerman

摘要

BackgroundandObjective:Astheeconomicandhealthstatusareimproving,elderlypopulationareincreasingBut,itisclearthatincreasedlongevityisnotperseissignofdevelopment,qualityoflifeismoreimportant.Qualityoflifeofelderlypeopleisinfluencedbyseveralfactors,oneofthemostimportantissocialsupport.Previousresearchesshowedthatalongwithincreaseinsocialsupport,elderlypeople`squalityoflifeisimproved.TheaimofthisresearchisfindingtherelationshipbetweensocialsupportandqualityoflifeoftheledelryinthecityKerman,Iran.SubjectsandMethods:Thissurveywasperformedamong383elderlymenandwomenlivinginthecityofKerman.Theresearchtoolwasaquestionnairewithinterview;SF36questionnairewasusedforscalingqualityoflifeandaresearchermadequestionnaireformeasuringsocialsupport.Results:Themostimportantsupporterswere,inthefirstdegree,waswife/husbandfollowedbythensonand,inthirddegree,daughter.Meanscoreofphysicalqualityoflifewasmorethanaveragementalhealthscore.Theresultsshowedthatemotionalsupport,financialservices,advisoryandinformation,andageareallthecomponentsofqualityoflife.Conclusion:Accordingtothesefindings,increaseinthetypesofsocialsupport,especiallyemotionalsupport,canbeofagreathelpforimprovementinthequalityoflifeforseniors.Ofcourse,elderlypeopleneedeconomicandothersupportiveservicesinadditiontoemotionalsupport.