The Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Illness Perception with Quality of Life of the Older Adult Living in Nursing Homes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support
With the rapid growth of older adults and the decline in quality of life due to physical, psychological, and social challenges, the need to investigate factors that contribute to improving this condition has become increasingly important. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between health anxiety and illness perception with quality of life among older adults residing in nursing homes, with the mediating role of perceived social support. This research employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included all older adults’ residents of nursing homes in Ardabil city during the autumn of 2024. A total of 335 participants were selected through convenience sampling and completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Health Anxiety Inventory (Salkovskis et al.), the Illness Perception Questionnaire (Broadbent et al.), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al.). Data were analyzed using SEM via SPSS version 26 and SmartPLS 3. The results indicated that quality of life was negatively and significantly associated with health anxiety and illness perception. Moreover, perceived social support was positively associated with quality of life by reducing the negative effects of health anxiety and negative illness perception, serving as a significant mediating factor. These findings suggest that better illness perception and higher levels of perceived social support are significantly related to lower health anxiety and improved quality of life among older adults. Therefore, designing and implementing psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing these components may play a pivotal role in promoting mental health and quality of life in older adults.
Sheykholeslami, A., Keyvanlou, M., Saeedi chavan, H., & Gohari, F. (2025). The Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Illness Perception with Quality of Life of the Older Adult Living in Nursing Homes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support. Aging Psychology, 11(1), 136-117. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11676.1832
MLA
Ali Sheykholeslami; Mahshid Keyvanlou; Haniyeh Saeedi chavan; Fatemeh Gohari. "The Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Illness Perception with Quality of Life of the Older Adult Living in Nursing Homes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support". Aging Psychology, 11, 1, 2025, 136-117. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11676.1832
HARVARD
Sheykholeslami, A., Keyvanlou, M., Saeedi chavan, H., Gohari, F. (2025). 'The Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Illness Perception with Quality of Life of the Older Adult Living in Nursing Homes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support', Aging Psychology, 11(1), pp. 136-117. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11676.1832
VANCOUVER
Sheykholeslami, A., Keyvanlou, M., Saeedi chavan, H., Gohari, F. The Relationship Between Health Anxiety and Illness Perception with Quality of Life of the Older Adult Living in Nursing Homes: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support. Aging Psychology, 2025; 11(1): 136-117. doi: 10.22126/jap.2025.11676.1832
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