Social Support and Its Association With Physical Health Among Elderly In District Ghaziabad
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2026.v38i01.018Keywords:
Aged, Social support, Activities of daily living, Physical functional performance, Disability evaluation, Rural populationAbstract
Background: India’s ageing population is increasing rapidly, leading to more elderly individuals at risk of physical disability and dependence. Social support is essential for maintaining their physical health and functional independence, particularly in rural areas. Objective: To assess level of social support and its association with physical health among elderly in district Ghaziabad. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 elderly individuals aged ≥60 years residing in rural areas of district Ghaziabad. Participants were selected using multistage random sampling, and data were collected through house-to-house visits using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Perceived social support was assessed using MSPSS, and physical health was evaluated using the Barthel Index for activities of daily living. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical tests, including chi-square test and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: Most participants were aged 60–69 years (42.1%) and male (73.8%). Moderate social support was seen in 65.2% (high: 17.9%, low: 16.8%). The mean Barthel Index was 75.19 ± 29.69, with 42.9% moderately dependent and 25.2% independent. A significant association was found between social support and physical health (χ² = 147.82, p < 0.001), with a strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.605). Conclusion: Higher social support is associated with better physical health and greater independence among the elderly.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nidhi Arora, Gajendra Kumar Gupta, Deepika Agrawal, Rahul Kumar, Syed Hasan Nawaz Zaidi, Amod Kumar
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