Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Süleyman Demirel University Isparta, Turkey.
Niger J Clin Pract. 2024 Mar 1;27(3):297-303. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_854_22. Epub 2024 Mar 26.
Social interaction is a very important subject for the elderly, especially in the context of active aging.
This study aims to investigate the effect of physical performance levels of the elderly living in rural and urban areas on social participation, social functioning, and quality of life.
A total of 418 volunteer elderly aged 65 and over, living in rural (42.3%) and urban (57.7%) areas, participated in this study. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Short Physical Performance Battery, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale for Older Adults, Social Functioning Scale, and the Community Integration Questionnaire were applied to participants.
The scores of social functioning (P = 0.027) and the social network subscale of social participation (P = 0.001) were significantly higher among participants living in urban areas compared to those living in rural areas. Physical performance was positively correlated with social participation (r = 0.404) and social functioning (r = 0.324) at a moderate level (P = 0.000), and with quality of life at a low level (r = 0.158) (P = 0.001). Social participation was positively correlated with social functioning at a high level (r = 0.572) and with quality of life at a moderate level (r = 0.300) (P = 0.000). Social functioning was positively correlated with quality of life at a low level (r = 0.234) (P < 0.01).
To increase social participation, social functioning, and quality of life among the elderly, it is necessary to keep physical performance levels higher. In addition, in the planning of social participation, it is crucial to take into account where the elderly live in.
社会交往对于老年人来说是一个非常重要的话题，尤其是在积极老龄化的背景下。
本研究旨在调查城乡老年人的身体表现水平对社会参与、社会功能和生活质量的影响。
共有 418 名年龄在 65 岁及以上的志愿者老年人参与了这项研究，他们居住在农村（42.3%）和城市（57.7%）地区。参与者接受了 Mini-Mental State Examination、Short Physical Performance Battery、世界卫生组织老年人生活质量量表、社会功能量表和社区融入问卷的评估。
与居住在农村地区的老年人相比，居住在城市地区的老年人的社会功能（P = 0.027）和社会参与的社会网络子量表（P = 0.001）得分显著更高。身体表现与社会参与（r = 0.404）和社会功能（r = 0.324）呈中度正相关（P = 0.000），与生活质量呈低度正相关（r = 0.158）（P = 0.001）。社会参与与社会功能呈高度正相关（r = 0.572），与生活质量呈中度正相关（r = 0.300）（P = 0.000）。社会功能与生活质量呈低度正相关（r = 0.234）（P < 0.01）。
为了提高老年人的社会参与、社会功能和生活质量，有必要保持较高的身体表现水平。此外，在规划社会参与时，必须考虑老年人的居住地点。
