Relationship of Social Participation with Mental Health and Cognitive Function of the Oolder People with Chronic Disease

Despite the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases with increasing age and the impact on different activities of the older people, there are still conflicting results regarding the relationship between social participation, cognitive functioning, and mental health of the older people. This study aimed to determine the relationship between social participation with mental health and cognitive function of older people with chronic disease in Bushehr city, 2018.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 278 older people covered by Bushehr Comprehensive Health Centers with chronic disease and at least 60 years old were studied by stratified random sampling. Demographic data collection, Canadian Social Participation Questionnaire, 28-item General Health Questionnaire, and Abbreviated Mental Test Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSSv.18 using descriptive and analytical statistical tests at the significant level of 0.05.

The mean age of the older people was 67.45±6.6 years. Visual disorders, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders were the most common diseases in older people. Most of the barriers to social participation of the participants were related to diseases and health problems, and impatience. Increasing social participation improved the mental health of the elderly (P=0.001), but social involvement was not associated with the cognitive function of the elderly (P=0.54). Increasing age was also associated with a decrease in social participation (p=0.001) and cognitive function (P=0.003) in the elderly, but it was not related to mental health (P=0.90). By logistic regression analysis, only age was identified as the most critical cognitive function determinant (P=0.002).

Considering the role of age on cognitive function disorders, it is recommended that special nursing care be developed and implemented to strengthen the cognitive function and prevent cognitive function destruction in the elderly with chronic diseases. Also, the conditions for social activities of the older people with chronic diseases should be provided.