Association of Dignity and Social Skills with Psychological Well-being among the Elderly

Recognizing the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among the elderly, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the psychological well-being of elderly individuals and their dignity and social skills.

In this cross-sectional study, 240 elderly individuals were randomly selected from health centers in Sarab City. Data was collected using Goldberg's psychological well-being, Jacqueline's social dignity, and Riggio's social skills questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 software, with descriptive and analytical tests performed at a significance level of p<0.05.

The initial hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that demographic variables could predict 33% of the variance in psychological well-being. Except for education level and housing status, all demographic variables were significant predictors of psychological well-being (p<0.05). In subsequent steps, demographic variables, social skills, and social dignity predicted 45.5% and 52.8% of changes in psychological well-being, respectively. Overall, social dignity emerged as the strongest predictor of psychological well-being (β=0.336).

The study findings suggest that social skills and social dignity are modifiable factors that can significantly impact psychological well-being among the elderly. It is recommended that policymakers and healthcare providers prioritize enhancing social skills and social dignity to enhance psychological well-being among the elderly.