Introduction: Physical and mental health, and consequently the quality of life of the elderly, are influenced by various factors, including social support, fear, and death anxiety. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between social support, death anxiety, and quality of life among elderly individuals referring to comprehensive health service centers affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences, using a structural equation modeling approach.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2024 on 350 elderly individuals referring to comprehensive health centers under the coverage of Iran University of Medical Sciences, selected through a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using the Vaux et al. (1986) Social Support Scale, the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SF-36), a socio-economic status questionnaire, and the Templer Death Anxiety Questionnaire (1970). Data analysis was performed using SPSS-21 and LISREL 8.8 software, employing descriptive methods and structural equation modeling.
Results: Among the study participants, 140 (40%) were men and 210 (60%) were women. The mean age of women was 66.7±1.6 years, and that of men was 68.6±1.7 years. According to the path analysis results, among the variables related to quality of life, social support had the strongest positive direct relationship (β = 0.32), while age had the strongest negative relationship (β = -0.17). Socio-economic status showed a positive relationship with quality of life through both direct and indirect paths (β = 1.06). The model fit indices indicated desirable results, high adequacy of the model, and logical relationships among the variables based on the conceptual model.
Conclusion: The study revealed a significant causal relationship between social support and quality of life among the elderly. These findings underscore the importance of supporting this vulnerable group in society more than ever before.