adequacy of social support from family, friends, and significant others of the participants. The instrument focuses on the individual’s perception of socio-emotional support from the above-mentioned sources. The MSPSS comprises 12 items, with 3 subscales having 4 items. Items for each source are scored on a seven-point Likert-type scale ranging from “very strongly disagree” {1} to “very strongly agree” {7}. Each set of items in the questionnaire acts as a guide for the support perceived from each source viz. family, friends, and significant others.

The subscale score for each respondent is computed by summing the ratings for each item for each support scale and then dividing the resulting total by 4. For the total score, ratings are summed and divided by 12. Total and subscale scores range from 1 to 7, with an increase in the scores, authenticates the social support perceived [13].

The table below is a scoring guide based on the response received in terms of social support from all three groups(subscales) and is categorized as follows.

 Table 1: A scoring guide for MSPSS [13]

Any mean total scale score ranging from 1 to 2.9 could be considered low support; a score of 3 to 5 could be considered moderate support; a score from 5.1 to 7 could be considered high support. 

Data collection: Written Informed consent was obtained from the participants. After explaining the study purpose, data were collected by interview method using a validated MSPSS questionnaire along with socio-demographic factors and chronic ailments if any. Socio-demographic factors include age, gender, religion, education, employment and marital status, type of family living with and so on and chronic ailments like Diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases and others were recorded.

Data analysis: Data were coded and entered in MS Excel and analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 20.0. Appropriate Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation median, frequency and percentage were used to show the distribution of sociodemographic and health-related characteristics

Table 2.2: Socio-Demographic characteristics of the Elderly with a total mean score of MSPSS and its association (N=100)

Note: p value* of <0.05 considered as statistically significant

A significant difference in perceived social support was found between characteristics of gender, religion, educational status, earning a livelihood, marital status, person living with any one of subgroups, support obtained for medication and previous hospitalization. (p<0.05). (Table 2.1 & 2.2) No significant difference was found between characteristics like having a health problem, or type of family (p>0.05). (Table 2.2)

Participants reported multiple co-morbid conditions. Common ailments reported among the participants were diabetes (47.0%), osteoarthritis (46.0%) hypertension (42.0%), and few also reported with other cardiovascular and chronic renal diseases (4%), eye (39.0%) and dental (49.0%) problems. (Figure 1) 

Fig 1: Chronic conditions among the Elderly (N=100) 

to the study conducted by Unsar et al, Dindar et al,  Valeria et al and Seby et al which states mean age is 68.0 ± 5.9 years, 68.05 ± 6.6 years, 73 ± 6.9 years and 73.9 years respectively [ 8,14–16]. The mean age of our study findings corresponds with the expectation of life at birth in India [17].

As the individuals grow old physical and physiological changes occur and eventually to chronic conditions. In our study, participants reported having chronic health problems was around 56 % which was almost similar to the finding of a study by Unsar et al which mentioned 60% [8]. Another study by Rajeshwar et al also mentioned that 30% of the participants have one chronic disease [18].

In this study, participants reported multiple co-morbid conditions. Common ailments reported among the participants were diabetes (47.0%), osteoarthritis (46.0%) hypertension (42.0%), and a few also reported other cardiovascular and chronic renal diseases (4%). In comparison to the study conducted by Valeria et al findings were almost similar for diabetes (31.6%), osteoarthritis (42.7%), and others (10.0%) except for Hypertension (83.3%) which was much higher when compared to the current study [15].

Social support refers to the quality of relationships and their interaction with their partner, family and others.  Researchers found out that people with stronger social relationships had an increased survival was observed than the ones with weaker relationships. Higher levels of social support might have more positive health status, role function and behaviors, and psychosocial adjustment [19].

In our study, the Social support score reported was 59.2 + 17.97 indicating moderate social support, which is almost the same as findings in a study by Dindar where the score was 60.6 + 17.1 [11]. A Study by Valeria et al reported Social support was satisfactory in 74.4% [15].

Social support score from the current study from each subgroup was found to be 21.19 + 5.50 by family, 18.19 + 7.49 by Significant others and 19.82 + 4.98 by Friends which was much higher when compared to scores in a study by Ali et al and scores were 12.60 + 4.57 by Family support, 9.06 + 4.15 by Significant Others and Friends by 5.43 + 1.40  [20].

What does this study add to existing knowledge?

The elderly population is one of the most vulnerable and neglected groups in any part of the world. Literature related to the elderly concerning Social support among the elderly is meagre. This study has attempted to assess social and emotional support received from spouses/partners, family and friends among the elderly population which is of utmost importance in that particular age group.

Author’s contribution: Mouna H S: Concept, research design, recruitment of participants, data preparation, data analysis, manuscript preparation. Hamsa L: research design, manuscript review, supervision. Ranganath T S: research design, manuscript review, supervision. Vishwanath N: data preparation, data analysis, supervision.