Independent living among community-based elderly: The impact of social support and sense of coherence

Abstract

This research began with an interest in enhancement of independent functioning among community based elderly. As the population ages, increasing numbers of older people, though not in need of institutional care, may need a variety of supports to maintain independence. Housing residents and administrators are faced with complex challenges as problems related to advanced aging occur, and independent functioning is threatened. In the interest of careful planning to maintain the best person-environment fit, and maintain maximum independence, systematic research can build knowledge that contributes to meeting these goals. This research involved assessing the factors of social support and sense of coherence as they relate to independent living ability among a group of 128 elderly residents of a metropolitan senior housing complex. Cross-sectional data were gathered using a pre-coded questionnaire in individual in-person interviews with a nonprobability sample of consenting residents. Independent living ability was measured by ADL and IADL scales from the OARS multidimensional assessment questionnaire. Social support was measured using the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (Norbeck, et al., 1983), and Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (1979) was used to measure sense of coherence. Data were analyzed using multiple regression. Hypotheses predicted relationships between each of the independent variables (social support and sense of coherence) and independent living ability after controlling for five demographic variables (age, education, income, number of living children, length of time at the complex). Findings did not support the predicted models. Since substantive knowledge lends some credibility to the connection between social support, sense of coherence, and well-being among the elderly, explanations for study findings are attributed to design and methodological factors. Low reliability of the dependent measure for this study may be explained by limited sample variability in ADL/IADL tasks. Random sampling and the use of a more varied sample is advisable in replication of this study.