saushd

Sakarya University Journal of Holistic Health

2687-6078

Sakarya University

10.54803/sauhsd.1772694

Public Health Nursing

Halk Sağlığı Hemşireliği

The Effect of Perceived Social Support on Loneliness and Hopelessness in Older Individuals

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3169-2911

Şahin

Merve Ayşe

TOKAT GAZIOSMANPASA UNIVERSITY

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7371-3883

Hacıhasanoğlu Aşılar

Rabia

YALOVA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

03 17 2026

Advanced Online Publication 08 26 2025 03 14 2026

2018

Sakarya University Journal of Holistic Health

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effect of perceived social support on loneliness and hopelessness in older individuals.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted between November 2017 and April 2018 at the Central Family Health Center located in the district center of a province in the Central Black Sea Region. No sample selection was used, and a total of 326 individuals aged 65 and over who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Data were collected by using a Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the UCLA-Loneliness Scale, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale.Results: The study revealed that the mean age of the older adults was 74.03±6.99 years. A moderate negative correlation was found between the total mean score of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the mean score of UCLA-Loneliness Scale. At the same time, there was a weak negative correlation between the total mean score of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the total mean score of Beck Hopelessness Scale (p<0.001).Conclusions: Perceived social support was an effective factor in reducing perception of loneliness and hopelessness, and hopelessness increased as loneliness grew. It is recommended that nurses working in family health centers detect loneliness and hopelessness in older adults at an early stage and provide counseling services to both families and elderly individuals to enhance social support.

Social Support Hopelessness Loneliness Older Adults

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