Successful Aging Focused on the Dimensions of Perceived Social Support and Mental Vitality in the Elderly Referred to the Health Centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences (2020)

Abstract

Background & Aims: Successful aging is a positive inner feeling and satisfaction from the past and present life. The subjective meaning of successful aging focuses on the inner dimensions of the aging experience such as happiness, self-fulfillment, emotions, perceived social support, satisfaction, and vitality in life. Perceived or subjective social support refers to individual's cognitive evaluation of their relationships, and studying and evaluating perceived social support is closely related to self-assessment of health, and paying attention to its understanding is of utmost importance in health care. One of the variables that effect successful aging, and improves health and quality of life of the elderly, is mental vitality which is somehow tied to the concept of psychological well-being and this concept refers to being positive, full of energy and cheerful. In other words, there is a very close relationship between mental vitality and happiness and social interactions. All of these states are positive and favorable concepts and are therefore associated with positive emotions and mood, which are very important in old age. Today, with the increase in the number of the elderly and the prolongation of life and life expectancy, efforts are being made to identify the components and factors associated with successful aging that guarantee a better quality of life, to provide an accurate sociological picture for proper health planning for the elderly. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine successful aging in the dimensions of perceived social support and mental vitality in the elderly referred to the health centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Materials & Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The research samples included 245 elderly people referring to the health centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences (in Tehran) in 2020 who were selected by continuous sampling method and entered the study after obtaining informed written consent. Data collection tools included Abbreviated Mental Test form (AMT), elderly demographic characteristics form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support developed by Zimmet, and Mental Vitality questionnaire developed by Ryan & Frederick. The questionnaires were completed in person and by interview (conducted by the researcher) during three months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency distribution tables and numerical indices) and inferential statistics (independent t-test, variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression) in SPSS 16 at the significance level of p ≤0.05. Results: The results of the present study showed that the mean age of the elderly was 68.18 ± 6.25 years. In total, (55.5%) of the subjects were women. Most of them were literate with undergraduate and postgraduate education and about (76.5%) were married and over (80%) had social security insurance. More than half of the surveyed elderly (53.4%) considered their current health status better than their peers and (96.8%) stated that they were able to perform their daily tasks and activities independently without the help and supervision of others. (66.8%) of the elderly surveyed considered religion to play a significant role in reducing stress and 51.4% stated that they were very satisfied with their lives. Perceived social support was at a high level for (65.6%) of the studied units. This component was the highest in the family dimension with an average of 22.76 and the lowest in the friends