Study On The Relationship Between Social Capital,Loneliness And Quality Of Life Of The Rural Elderly

Objective: The present study was aimed to(a)describe the status condition of social capital,loneliness and quality of life of the rural elderly,as well as analyze their differences in different demographic characteristics and health conditions,and(b)explore the relationship among social capital,loneliness and quality of life.From the perspective of social capital,this study attempted to provide reference for reducing loneliness and improving quality of life of the rural elderly in China.Methods: Chinese rural adults aged 60 years and older were surveyed using a convenience sampling strategy.The questionnaire included socio-demographic information,the Personal Social Capital Scale 16(PSCS-16),the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale(ULS-8),and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument Elderly Adults Module(WHOQOL-OLD).Descriptive statistics,t-test,one-way analysis of variance,Pearson correlation,multiple linear regression,and structural equation model were used to analyze the data.Results:(1)A total of 2,816 rural elderly people were involved in this study.Among the participants,50.9% were female,and 23.3% were aged between 60 and 64 years old.The scores of bonding social capital were 10.38±3.61,and bridging social capital were 8.41±3.80.The score of ULS-8 and WHOQOL-OLD were 18.01±5.33 and 74.51±13.68,respectively.(2)The results of univariate analyses showed significant differences in boding social capital score,ULS-8 score,and WHOQOL-OLD score among participants with different gender,age,education level,marital status,living arrangement,per capita annual household income,and chronic disease condition(all P-values < 0.05).Significant differences were also observed in bridging social capital among participants with different gender,age,education level,marital status,per capita annual household income,and chronic disease condition(all P-values < 0.05).(3)Bonding social capital was negatively associated with loneliness(r =-0.483,P<0.001;? =-0.582,P<0.001).Bridging social capital was negatively associated with loneliness(r =-0.368,P<0.001;? =-0.380,P< 0.001).(4)Bonding social capital was positively associated with quality of life(r =0.481,P<0.001;? = 1.331,P<0.001)and its dimensions(r=0.264 to 0.398,all P-values < 0.001;? = 0.193 to 0.250,all P-values <0.001).Bridging social capital was positively associated with quality of life(r=0.313,P<0.001;?=0.649,P<0.001)and its dimensions(r=0.179 to 0.254,all P-values<0.001;?=0.055?0.152,P<0.05).(5)Loneliness was negatively associated with quality of life(r =-0.593,P<0.001;? =-1.267,P<0.001)and its dimensions(r =-0.449 to-0.353,all P-values<0.001;?=-0.173 to-0.242,all P-values <0.001).(6)The total effect of bonding social capital on the quality of life was 0.452(Bootstrap 95% CI = 0.400 to 0.499).The indirect effect of bonding social capital on the quality of life through loneliness was 0.191(Bootstrap 95% CI =0.168 to 0.216),which accounted for 42.3% of the total effect.The total effect of bridging social capital on the quality of life was 0.279(Bootstrap 95% CI = 0.233 to 0.326).The indirect effect of bridging social capital on the quality of life through loneliness was0.176(Bootstrap 95% CI = 0.154 to 0.197),which accounted for 75.72% of the total effect.Conclusion:(1)Low level of social capital and quality of life,and high level of loneliness were observed in the Chinese rural elderly.More attention should be paid to social capital and loneliness among Chinese rural elderly.It is recommended that improving social capital and decreasing loneliness should be listed as the key content of mental health prevention and intervention for the elderly.(2)The rural elderly who aged 75 years and older,lived alone,had lower education level,and had lower per capita annual household income were more likely to report loneliness and poor quality of life.Future interventions regarding rural elderly' loneliness and quality of life should pay attention to the differences in socio-demographic characteristics.(3)Bonding social capital and bridging social capital not only negatively predicted the loneliness level of rural elderly,but also directly or indirectly through loneliness predicted the quality of life of rural elderly.Future elderly health interventions carried out from the perspective of social capital might make sense.