The predictive role of social intelligence in successful aging in the elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Successful aging is a concept that seemingly provides a good approach to increase an individual's success in old age. The results of studies have shown that various factors can predict a successful aging. Social intelligence is one of the parameters that can predict a person's success in life. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample consisted of 288 elderly people in the city of Karaj who were selected at first by cluster sampling method and then by convenience sampling method. In order to evaluate successful aging (based on Rowe and Kahn's theory), the following questionnaires were used in addition to emphasizing the absence of chronic disease: World Health Organization's mental well-being questionnaire, Katz physical functioning questionnaire, and Duke social support and interaction questionnaire. To investigate the social intelligence, the Tromso social intelligence questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed by a descriptive test and also logistic regression in SPSS software version 22. Results: The mean age of the elderly was 65.24 ± 5.10. The successful aging rate was 7.3%. In logistic regression analysis, social intelligence significantly predicted successful aging. Moreover, variables of body mass index, previous job, level of religious beliefs, marital status, education level, the person they were living with and the use of assistive devices had a significant correlation with successful aging. Conclusion: Due to the high predictive power of social intelligence in successful aging and since this variable can be taught and learned, by emphasizing this variable and other predictor variables, this period can be enriched for the elderly along with a better quality of life.