Social Participation and Related Factors in Older Adult Women

Background: Social participation is one of the most important factors in the health of the elderly and also the main goal of health-related interventions. The purpose of this study was to assess social participation and its related factors in the elderly women population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۰۰ women aged ۶۰ and older in Hamadan, Iran, in ۲۰۲۰. The samples were selected by a simple random sampling method and according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A demographic questionnaire, Women’s Social Participation Factors Questionnaire, and mini-mental state examination were completed, and data were obtained from the participants by trained questionnaires. Results: The mean social participation score was ۷۰.۸ ± ۱۰.۷, and scores ranged from ۰ to ۱۲۰. The level of social participation was moderate in ۸۲% of the participants, weak and insufficient in ۱۶.۳%, and strong in ۱.۷% of participants. The obtained results indicated that ۳۹% of the participants were employed before the elderly, and ۲۲.۶۷% had regular employment in old age. There were different types of occupation among this group: ۳۰.۳۳% had paid jobs, ۲۳.۶۷% voluntary jobs, ۶۲% religious activities, and ۷۶% were jobless. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between social participation and elderly employment history (P < ۰.۰۱), level of education (P = ۰.۰۱), and regular physical activity (P = ۰.۰۳). Conclusion: The social participation of elderly women was found to be mostly moderate in this study, and people with higher education, regular physical activity, and a vocational history before old age had better social participation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Elderly ، Participation ، Social ، Women