Electronic ISSN 2287-0237

VOLUME

PERCEIVED SOCIAL ISOLATION, SELF-CARE BEHAVIORS AND HEALTH STATUS AMONG COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS LIVING ALONE

FEBRUARY 2016 - VOL.11 | ORIGINAL ARTICLE
OBJECTIVE

To study and analyze the links among basic conditioning factors, perceived social isolation, self-care behaviors and health status of community dwelling older adults living alone.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

This study was a descriptive correlational research. The samples were 212 community dwelling older adults living alone in Sa Kaeo Province, Thailand. The data were collected by structured interviews and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation statistics and Chi-square test.

RESULTS:

The perceived social isolation of the samples was at a moderate level (62.7%) while that of the self-care behaviors was at a fair level (55.2%). Also, both perceived physical status and mental health status were both at a high level (50.5% and 60.8%, respectively). The perceived social isolation had statistically significant negative correlation with self-care behaviors (r = -0.518, p < 0.001) and the perceived physical  health status  (r  =  -0.249,  p  <  0.001)   and  the  perceived  mental  health (r = -0.364, p < 0.001). The basic factors which  statistically significant correlated with the perceived social isolation was education (χ2= 6.194, p = 0.045) and income (χ2 = 17.489, p < 0.001). Self-care behaviors were statistically significant associated with age (r = -0.236, p < 0.001), gender (χ2 = 9.288, p = 0.01),  education (χ2 = 10.255,  p = 0.006) and income χ2 = 21.414, p < 0.001). The perceived physical health status was statistically significant associated with  age  (r  =  -0.328,  p  <  0.001),  income (χ2 = 14.584, p = 0.001) and health problems (χ2 = 9.726, p = 0.008). The perceived mental health status was statistically significant associated with age (r  = -0.238,p < 0.001) and income (χ2 = 23.309,p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

It can be concluded that there were links among basic conditioning factors, the perceived social isolation, self-care behaviors and health status of the community dwelling older adults living alone. Thus, in assessing the health status and promoting self-care behaviors that are appropriate for this group of older adults, these factors should be taken into account, especially the older adults who have a low income and are poorly educated.

Keywords:

community dwelling older adults living alone, perceived social isolation, self-care behaviors, health status

DOI:

10.31524/bkkmedj.2016.02.004

MEDIA
Table 1:
The links among basic factors (gender, marital status, education, income and health problems) and perceived social isolation of older adults living alone in the community by chi-square (n = 212).
Table 2:
The links among age, perceived social isolation, self-care behaviors, physical health status and mental health status among older adults living alone in the community using statistical Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (n = 212).
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