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Social Isolation and Its Associated Factors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Esfarayen
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Hamid Reza Shoraka1    , Fahimeh Anbari2 , Ahmad Sadeghi1 , Nasim Pirzadeh *3 |
1- Department of Public Health, Esfarayen, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
2- Student Research Committee, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran
3- Department of Gerontological Health, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. |
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Abstract: (69 Views) |
Background and objectives: Social isolation is a multidimensional phenomenon that may occur at different stages of life. Older adults are particularly susceptible to social isolation because of retirement, bereavement, declining physical health, and reduced social roles. Given the increasing proportion of older adults in the population and the well-established impact of social isolation on health and well-being, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of social isolation and identify its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in Esfarayen, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 among community-dwelling older adults in Esfarayen, Iran. Sampling was carried out in two stages using stratified random sampling with proportional allocation, followed by systematic sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Lubben Social Network Scale; they were analyzed using SPSS-27 software and descriptive and inferential statistical tests, with a significance level of 0.05 set for all tests.
Results: In total, 403 older adults with a mean age of 69.95 ± 5.02 years participated in the study, of whom 261 (64.8%) were men. The mean social isolation score in this study was 7.97 ± 4.38. Based on the results of univariate analysis, a significant relationship was observed between social isolation and age, gender, history of chronic diseases, history of falls, fear of falling, level of education, marital status, number of children, economic status, physical activity, employment status, and use of social networks (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that age, gender (male), history of chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and COPD), history of falls, fear of falling, and polypharmacy were significantly associated with higher levels of social isolation (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Social isolation among community-dwelling older adults in Esfarayen was generally at a moderate level and was significantly associated with physical health, socioeconomic characteristics, and indicators of social participation. These findings highlight the need for targeted health interventions and evidence-informed public policies addressing the determinants of social isolation to enhance quality of life and promote social integration among older adults.
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| Keywords: Social isolation, older adults, Lubben Social Network Scale, Social determinants of health, Iran. |
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Full-Text [PDF 741 kb]
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Type of Study: Research Article |
Subject:
health
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