Social support, functional health, and psychological well-being in community-based elders with chronic health problem

Abstract

The purpose of this cross~sectional, descriptive correlational study was to test the mediating effect of four dimensions of social support upon the relationship between behavioral competence and psychological well-being in community-based elders living in the rural southeast with ·one or more chronic health problems. Knowing the effect of the different dimensions of social support (informational, emotional, tangible, and integratiopal) upon the relationship between behavioral competence and psychological well-being is projected to enable caregivers to help more frail elders to maintain their independence for a longer period of time. The two dimensions of behavioral competence were basic and instrumental activities of daily living (AD Ls). Social support was measured by Krause's (1986) modification of Barrera's (1981) Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors. Psychological well-being was measured by Liang's (1985) Integration of the Life Satisfaction Index A (Adams, 1969) and the Affect Balance Scale (Bradburn, 1969). Subjects (N = 100), 65 years of age or older, had an average of one chronic health problem, and were independent in most basic and instrumental ADLs. The mediating effect was tested using bivariate regression analysis and Baron and Kenny9s (1986) process. Findings suggested that informational and emotional social support mediated the relationship between basic ADLs and psyc~ological well-being; informational social support mediated the relationship between instrumental ADLs and psychological well-being. Recommendations for future research and nursing practice were made.