Speakers - WNSC 2025

Abstract

Background: In the ageing society, social isolation older adults in community plays a potentially important role in their psychological well-being which are critical for healthy ageing. Researchers have documented that physical activity and psychological resilience are related to this relationship.
Purpose: To explore the relationship between social isolation and psychological well-being among older adults in the community, and to analyze the chain mediating role of physical activity and psychological resilience. 

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, from June to September From November 2023 to March 2024, 265 older adults from six communities in XX City were selected using convenience sampling. The study employed a General Information Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Elderly Social Isolation Scale, the Elderly Physical Activity Scale, the 10-item Brief Resilience Scale, and the Psychological Well-being Questionnaire from the Comprehensive Happiness Scale to assess social isolation, physical activity, psychological resilience, and psychological well-being among elderly individuals in the community. Path analysis using the structural equation model was performed.

Results: The psychological well-being score for older adults is 4.82±0.84, social isolation score is 14.15±3.73, physical activity score is 130.32± 65.24, and psychological resilience score is 26.62± 7.17. Pearson correlation analysis indicated significant relationships between psychological well-being and scores for social isolation (r=-0.397), psychological resilience (r=0.668), and physical activity (r=0.208), all with P<0.001. Mediation analysis results showed that social isolation directly affects psychological well-being of elderly individuals [effect=0.054; 95%CI= (0.034~0.077)], and it also influences psychological well-being through three mediation chains: physical activity [effect=0.015; 95% CI=(0.008~0.023)], psychological resilience [effect=0.033; 95%CI=(0.016~0.051)], and the chain mediation effect of physical activity and psychological resilience [effect=0.007; 95%CI=(0.002~0.013)]; total mediation effect accounted for 60% of the total effect. 

Conclusion: These findings offer promising directions for developing interventions to enhance older adults’ psychological well-being through modifying their social isolation.These interventions should integrate components that target improving the physical activity and psychological resilience of older adults.

Keywords: older adults; social isolation; psychological well-being; physical activity; psychological resilience