West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Sichuan, China.
West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, 610041, Sichuan, China.
BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 4;22(1):685. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04310-6.
At present, the empty nest phenomenon is becoming more and more serious in the world, especially in China, and its health problems deserve attention. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the impact of community social capital on the health-related quality of life of empty-nest elderly.
The study used data collected from a survey study conducted between 2018 and 2019 in Sichuan province, China, with 638 empty-nest elderly meeting our criteria. SF-12 scale and self-made social capital scale were used to evaluate the health-related quality of life and community social capital of empty-nest elderly. Through descriptive statistical analysis, bivariate analysis and hierarchical multiple regression model, this study analyzes the relationship between community social capital and health-related quality of life of empty-nest elderly. Considering the role of living arrangements, this study further uses the simple effect analysis method to explore the moderating role of living arrangements.
After controlling the relevant variables, the cognitive social capital (CSC) of empty-nest elderly had a positive relationship with the physical health summary (PCS) (β = 0.188, p＜0.001) and mental health summary (MCS) (β = 0.205, p＜0.001). No effect of structural social capital on quality of life was found as a result. Living arrangements played a moderation effect on the relationship between CSC and MCS (β=-2.018, p＜0.05). The MCS score of high CSC group (55.516 ± 0.757) was significantly higher than that of low CSC group (49.383 ± 0.722).
The results suggest empty-nest elderly has poorer physical health and weaker structural social capital, while the cognitive social capital has a greater positive impact on their quality of life. Targeted interventions to enhance community social capital may be beneficial to improve health status of this vulnerable population.
目前，空巢现象在世界范围内变得越来越严重，尤其是在中国，其健康问题值得关注。因此，本研究旨在探讨社区社会资本对空巢老人健康相关生活质量的影响。
本研究使用了 2018 年至 2019 年在中国四川省进行的一项调查研究的数据，共纳入 638 名符合条件的空巢老人。采用 SF-12 量表和自制社会资本量表评估空巢老人的健康相关生活质量和社区社会资本。通过描述性统计分析、双变量分析和分层多元回归模型，分析社区社会资本与空巢老人健康相关生活质量之间的关系。考虑到生活安排的作用，本研究进一步采用简单效应分析方法探讨了生活安排的调节作用。
在控制相关变量后，空巢老人的认知社会资本（CSC）与身体健康综合评分（PCS）（β=0.188，p＜0.001）和心理健康综合评分（MCS）（β=0.205，p＜0.001）呈正相关。结构社会资本对生活质量没有影响。生活安排对 CSC 与 MCS 之间的关系起到了调节作用（β=-2.018，p＜0.05）。高 CSC 组（55.516±0.757）的 MCS 评分显著高于低 CSC 组（49.383±0.722）。
结果表明，空巢老人的身体健康状况较差，结构社会资本较弱，而认知社会资本对其生活质量有更大的积极影响。有针对性地加强社区社会资本干预可能有利于改善这一弱势群体的健康状况。
