The Relationship between Social Support and Anxiety among Rural Older People in Elderly Caring Social Organizations: A Cross-Sectional Study

Lanlan Zhao, Xin Zheng, Kai Ji, Zhengsheng Wang, Lingzhi Sang, Xuefei Chen, Ling Tang, Ying Zhu, Zhongliang Bai and Ren Chen ()
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Lanlan Zhao: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Xin Zheng: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Kai Ji: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Zhengsheng Wang: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Lingzhi Sang: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Xuefei Chen: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Ling Tang: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Ying Zhu: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Zhongliang Bai: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Ren Chen: School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Social support and anxiety have a major impact on later life quality in rural, older people in elderly caring social organizations (SOs). This study aimed to explore the relationship between social support and anxiety and their relevant influential factors among rural older people in elderly caring SOs in Anhui Province, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method. Independent t -tests, one-way ANOVA, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and a generalized linear model were employed. Results: A significantly negative association between friends’ support and anxiety were found among rural older people in elderly caring SOs. Statistically significant relationships were found between social support and gender, marital status, education level, whether visited by relatives, and institutional satisfaction. Similarly, anxiety was associated with gender, institutional satisfaction, comorbid chronic diseases, and friends’ support. Conclusions: Social support from friends plays an important role in preventing and regulating anxiety among rural older people, especially those from elderly caring SOs. To reduce the occurrence and level of anxiety among rural elderly in elderly caring SOs, an effort should be given to strengthening social support, improving institutional satisfaction, and emphasizing comorbid chronic diseases.

Keywords: social support; anxiety; rural older people; elderly caring; social organizations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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