Social network and its effect on selected dimension of health and quality of life among community dwelling urban and rural geriatric population in India

Background: As the age increases, elderly people experiences more changes in physical, mental and social wellbeing. Quick growth of the elderly in India draws into consideration of the factors that are contributing to their altering health realities. Social isolation is one of the major risk factor affecting the health particularly in elderly. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with 1000 older adults aged >= 60 years, using multistage systematic sampling technique, in a selected urban and rural block. Individual's interviewed with standard questionnaire. Data was entered in excel and analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Results: Among the participants, 36.4% were men and 63.6% were women with the mean age 64 years. Majority of them were in the age group of 60-69 (65.6%). Participants those with good social network is only 29.9% remaining 70.1% were having poor social network. In rural setting illiterate were socially connected (p = 0.001) whereas in urban setting literate elderly were more socially connected (p = 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that depression, stress, severe cognitive impairment, poor health status, and poor quality of life are tend to be significant in poor social network (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Most of the elderly are at risk of isolation. Elderly with poor social network are negatively associated with selected dimension of health and quality of life. Health care intervention programs by public health services need to focus on protecting social health of elderly. Alignment of health system to the needs of elderly will definitely promote health and graceful ageing.