The mediating effect of social support in the relationship between resilience and loneliness among the elderly people

Abstract

Loneliness is an emotional and subjective experience that has a significant impact on people, especially elderly people. Various factors, such as resilience and social support, can help miti gate the negative effects of loneliness. However, further research is needed to understand how social support can influence the relationship between resilience and loneliness. With the aging of the population, understanding this issue has become even more urgent. Objective: The main objective of this research was to understand the mediating effect of social support on the rela tionship between resilience and loneliness among elderly people. Method: This study included a sample of 104 elderly people aged between 65 and 92 years, and three main measurement ins truments were employed: the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale, the Loneliness Scale (UCLA), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: The results indica ted that social support had a significant mediating effect on the relationship between resilience and loneliness. We also found a negative correlation between loneliness, resilience, and social support, while resilience and social support were positively correlated. Conclusion: Thus, it was concluded that the inclusion of social support in the mediation model, together with resilience, demonstrated a greater effect in explaining loneliness among the elderly people. In this way, the results can help in the development of appropriate strategies to reduce loneliness and its impact on the elderly population, promoting resilience and increasing social support for this group. In addition, understanding these factors can provide valuable insights for healthcare professio nals and public policy, enabling them to improve the psychological health of the elderly people, whose numbers have increased significantly