Investigating the Mediating Role of Anxiety and Loneliness in the Relationship between Sense of Coherence and Mental Health in the Elderly

Background: The concept of sense of coherence (SOC) plays a crucial role in safeguarding the well-being of the elderly. Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the mediating role of anxiety and loneliness in the relationship between SOC and mental health in the elderly. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted based on a cross-sectional research methodology. The target population for this study consisted of all elderly individuals in Shiraz from July to October 2023, comprising 980 individuals. The selection of clinics was based on available methods, and a simple random sampling technique was used for data collection. The research utilized various tools, including the Beck Anxiety Scale, Riff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire, Russell Loneliness Questionnaire, and Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Questionnaire. To test the research hypotheses, the structural equation modeling method was employed using SPSS version 27 and Smart PLS 3 software. The Sobel test was conducted to assess the significance of mediating variables. Results: The findings indicated that SOC had a significant direct impact on mental health (β=0.415, P<0.01). Anxiety was found to have a direct negative impact on mental health (β=-0.207, P<0.01). Loneliness was also discovered to have a direct negative impact on mental health (β=-0.365, P<0.01). Furthermore, the mediating variables in the study were deemed significant according to the Sobel test. Conclusion: The research findings indicated a clear and significant correlation between SOC and mental health in the elderly. This suggests that enhancing SOC in older individuals can also improve and bolster their mental well-being. The study revealed that anxiety and loneliness could have an adverse impact on the relationship between SOC and mental health in elderly individuals. It was found that seniors experiencing anxiety and loneliness were more likely to develop mental health issues. In light of these results, it is recommended to focus more on enhancing SOC in the elderly.

Investigating the Mediating Role of Anxiety and Loneliness in the Relationship between Sense of Coherence and Mental Health in the Elderly Keywords:

anxiety , Elderly , Loneliness , mental health , Sense of coherence