تحلیل روایت زنان سالمند از شاخص‌های روانی‌-‌اجتماعی شهر دوستدار سالمند در ایران

Background: Population aging, as one of the most significant demographic transformations of the twenty-first century, has increasingly highlighted the need to create age-friendly environments. The age-friendly city approach emphasizes providing conditions that enable older adults to maintain a desirable quality of life, participate socially, and experience psychological well-being. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the social and psychological indicators of an age-friendly environment from the perspectives of older women living in Khomeinishahr, Isfahan Province, Iran.
Method: This qualitative study was conducted in 2025 using a narrative analysis approach. Participants were women aged 65 years and older residing in Khomeinishahr who were selected through purposive sampling. Sampling continued until data saturation was reached, resulting in the participation of 21 older women. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured narrative interviews and analyzed using narrative analysis. MAXQDA software, version 2020, was used to organize, code, and facilitate the analysis of the data.
Results: Analysis of the participants’ narratives revealed four main themes: social respect, social participation and relationships, civic participation and employment, and mental health. The identified subthemes included inadequate urban facilities tailored to the needs of older adults, feelings of social insecurity, reduced family respect, generational gaps, limited access to healthcare services and technology, decreased social support and relationships, economic dependency, restricted social participation, stress and worry, feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, hopelessness about the future, and the need for psychological services. Older women also described economic difficulties, inadequate recreational and welfare facilities, reduced social support, and difficulties in using new technologies, which, in their narratives, were associated with greater feelings of isolation and hopelessness and poorer mental health.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that Khomeinishahr faces considerable shortcomings in meeting several social and psychological indicators of an age-friendly city. Developing welfare and recreational infrastructures tailored to the needs of older adults, strengthening opportunities for social and civic participation, improving access to mental health services, and providing technology-related skills training may contribute to improving the quality of life and psychological well-being of older women.
EXTENDED ABSTRACT
Introduction
Population aging is one of the most significant demographic transformations of the twenty-first century and has heightened the need to address older adults’ quality of life and the creation of supportive living environments. Quality of life in later life is not determined solely by physical health or access to healthcare services; it is also profoundly shaped by the social and psychological characteristics of the environment in which older adults live. In this context, the concept of an age-friendly city emphasizes the creation of environments that enable older adults to maintain independence, feel safe, participate in social life, and experience psychological well-being. The psychosocial dimensions of an age-friendly city include social respect, social participation and relationships, civic participation and employment, and mental health. These dimensions are closely associated with older adults’ sense of self-worth, social belonging, and life satisfaction. Deficiencies in these areas may contribute to reduced social support, increased loneliness, economic dependency, restricted participation, and poorer mental health. Despite the importance of these dimensions, most studies conducted in Iran have focused primarily on quantitative assessments of age-friendly urban indicators, while relatively little attention has been paid to older adults’ lived experiences. This gap is particularly important for older women, who may face greater social and economic constraints in later life. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore and analyze older women’s narratives of the psychosocial indicators of an age-friendly city in Khomeinishahr, Isfahan Province, Iran.
Method
This qualitative study was conducted in 2025 in Khomeinishahr, Isfahan Province, using a narrative analysis approach. The study population consisted of women aged 65 years and older who were residents of Khomeinishahr. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, which continued until data saturation was achieved. A total of 21 older women participated in the study. The inclusion criteria were being 65 years of age or older, residing in Khomeinishahr, being able to communicate verbally, willingness to participate in the study, and providing informed consent. The exclusion criteria included withdrawal from the study, inability to continue the interview, or incomplete information. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured narrative interviews focusing on participants’ experiences of the psychosocial dimensions of an age-friendly city, including social respect, social participation and relationships, civic participation and employment, and mental health. Interviews lasted between 45 and 80 minutes and were conducted in settings preferred by the participants, including their homes, parks, and mosques. Following verbatim transcription, the interviews were analyzed thematically within a narrative analysis framework. Initial codes were identified from the narratives, and conceptually similar codes were subsequently organized into subthemes and overarching themes. MAXQDA software, version 2020, was used to facilitate data organization and coding. To enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings, several strategies were employed, including member checking, peer review, repeated examination of the data, and reflexive consideration of the researchers’ preconceptions.
Results
The analysis showed that older women’s experiences of the urban environment could be organized into four major themes: social respect, social participation and relationships, civic participation and employment, and mental health. Within the theme of social respect, participants described inadequate urban facilities for older adults, the absence of neighborhood parks in older parts of the city, the considerable distance to cultural and recreational centers, feelings of social insecurity, and a perceived decline in respect for older adults within the family. Participants also reported that social and technological changes had increased their dependence on others. Difficulties in using electronic services, paying bills, booking medical appointments, and accessing online services contributed to feelings of inadequacy and diminished independence. The generational gap and the perceived lack of interest among younger people in older adults’ knowledge and experiences were also frequently described as important challenges. With regard to social participation and relationships, participants reported declining social support, less frequent family visits, and the narrowing of their social networks, often to interactions with their children alone. Many women described experiences of loneliness, exclusion from certain family interactions, and a diminished social role. They felt that, compared with the past, older adults were less frequently consulted or included in family and community decision-making. The theme of civic participation and employment reflected a range of economic, physical, and cultural barriers to continued participation in social life. Participants described a lack of appropriate opportunities to remain economically or socially active, the declining social value attributed to traditional skills such as knitting and handicrafts, and the absence of pension income among many women who had spent much of their lives as homemakers. Financial dependence on children was a particularly important concern. Some participants also expressed the feeling that society no longer valued or needed their accumulated knowledge, skills, and life experience. Within the theme of mental health, older women described stress and persistent worries about their children’s future, financial hardship, illness, bereavement following the death of a spouse or child, loneliness, and diminished self-esteem. Many participants viewed themselves as a burden on their families and expressed little hope for the future. Limited access to psychological services, either because of their high cost, insufficient awareness of available services, or a lack of appropriate local support centers, was another important concern.
Conclusion
The findings indicate that Khomeinishahr faces substantial challenges in meeting the psychosocial requirements of an age-friendly city. The narratives of older women demonstrate that aging is not merely a biological process but also a deeply social experience shaped by the quality of interpersonal relationships, opportunities for participation, availability of social support, and individuals’ sense of being valued by others. Inadequate age-appropriate urban spaces, declining social interaction, limited opportunities for civic participation, and financial difficulties contributed to feelings of isolation, dependency, and social marginalization among many participants. These findings are consistent with previous studies conducted in Iran and other countries on age-friendly city indicators, which have emphasized the importance of the social environment, social participation, and community support in promoting older adults’ quality of life. The findings further suggest that aging policies in Iran should not focus exclusively on healthcare services and physical needs. Greater attention should also be paid to the psychological and social dimensions of later life. Developing accessible social and recreational spaces close to older adults’ neighborhoods, strengthening opportunities for social participation, providing training in digital and technological skills, expanding accessible mental health services, and improving economic support for older women may contribute to the development of more age-friendly communities. Importantly, older adults’ own narratives should be regarded as a valuable source of evidence in urban planning and policy-making. Incorporating their experiences, needs, and perspectives into decision-making processes may help create more inclusive environments that support independence, participation, dignity, and psychological well-being in later life.
Ethical Consid ration
Ethical Code
Before the interviews, the purpose of the study was explained to the participants, and their consent to participate was obtained. Participant confidentiality was maintained by using identification codes rather than personal information.
Funding
This study received no external funding.
Authors’ Contributions

L. F.: Conceptualization, methodology, validation, data collection, data analysis, data curation, writing-original draft, and writing-review and editing. A. G. B.: Conceptualization, methodology, supervision, project administration, and writing-review and editing.

Conflict of Interest
The author had no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge all older women who participated in this study and generously shared their experiences and personal narratives.
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