The Relationship Between Social Support and Quality of ADL among Older Adults in the Rural Community

The increasing trends in achieving old age call for the consideration of ADL and social support in the elderly as effective factors in improving their health. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between social support and background variables as well as ADL level among older adults in the rural community in southern Iran.

This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was carried out on 302 elderly people aged 65 years and a bove  in the rural community of southern Iran using stratified random sampling method. The social support questionnaire (Procidano, M. E., Heller, K.) and ADL scale for the elderly were used.

The mean age of the participants was 7/067±69/67. The mean score of perceived social support was 3/10± 16/55 and the mean score of ability to perform ADLs was 28/237±55/68. Social support, education and age were effective in performing ADLs among the elderly (P <0/001) while marital status and gender had no effect on ADL level (P <0/05). The age of older adults was inversely correlated with their ability to perform ADL, so that their independence in doing ADL will decrease with age.

Many variables affect ADL level among the elderly. Therefore, health care providers should facilitate the elderly’s independent living through educational programs so that they can maintain and promote a healthy and active life.