The Relationship Between Social Support and Happiness Among Older Adults at Puskesmas Walenrang, South Sulawesi
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Happiness is an important indicator of successful aging among older adults. However, many older adults experience decreased well-being due to loneliness, declining health, and reduced social interaction. Social support from family, peers, and the community plays a crucial role in maintaining psychological well-being and happiness in later life. In primary healthcare settings such as Puskesmas Walenrang, South Sulawesi, understanding the influence of social support is essential to improve elderly care services.
Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between social support and happiness among older adults at Puskesmas Walenrang, South Sulawesi.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 80 older adults aged ≥60 years selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using validated questionnaires measuring perceived social support and happiness levels. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Sperman correlation to determine the relationship and influence between social support and happiness.
Results: The findings showed a significant positive relationship between social support and happiness among older adults (r = 0.62; p = 0.001). Participants who received higher levels of emotional, instrumental, and informational support reported higher happiness levels and better psychological well-being. Older adults with strong family and community support also experienced lower levels of loneliness and emotional distress. Social support was identified as a significant predictor of happiness.
Conclusion: Social support plays a vital role in enhancing happiness among older adults. Strengthening family involvement and community-based support programs through primary healthcare services is essential to improve the quality of life of older adults. These findings highlight the importance of nursing interventions focused on family engagement, psychosocial support, and community participation to promote healthy and successful aging among older adults.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The Indonesian Nursing Journal is committed to the principles of Open Access to ensure the global exchange of knowledge. All articles published in this journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Under this license, users are free to:
Under the following terms:
Attribution: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
This licensing framework ensures that authors retain copyright while allowing the public to utilize the research to the fullest extent possible, fostering innovation and collaboration in the field of nursing and healthcare.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
References
[1] M. S. Hossen, H. B. M. Pauzi, and S. F. B. Salleh, “Enhancing elderly well-being through age-friendly community, social engagement and social support,” American J Sci Edu Re: AJSER, vol. 135, 2023.
[2] M. Saber, V. Rashedi, M. M. FadakarDavarani, and V. Borhaninejad, “Social support, happiness, and self-rated health among older adults: a population-based study,” Advances in Gerontology, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 22–28, 2021.
[3] E. Ezati, P. Hosseinikoukamari, M. Karimy, J. Rawlins, F. Akbartabar, and P. Khalvandi, “The role of spirituality and social support in Iranian elderly happiness: a cross-sectional study.,” 2023.
[4] C. Fonseca, M. Teixeira, A. P. Caetano, and P. F. S. Rodrigues, “Life satisfaction, well-being, and happiness in older adults with and without formal support,” Revista Portuguesa de Investigação Comportamental e Social: RPICS, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 8, 2024.
[5] Y. Chen et al., “Social capital, health status, and sociodemographic factors associated with subjective well-being among older adults: a comparative study of community dwellings and nursing homes,” BMC Public Health, vol. 25, no. 1, p. 1259, 2025.
[6] T. Paralikas et al., “Meaning in Life, Happiness, and Well-Being as Protective Factors Against Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study,” Journal of Applied Gerontology, p. 07334648251386540, 2025.
[7] M. Kalati, Z. Rampisheh, N. SoleimanvandiAzar, M. Shati, S. S. Mortazavi, and M. Nojomi, “Strategies for Improving Happiness in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Trials,” Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr., p. 106214, 2026.
[8] F. Ariska and W. D. Pratisti, “Kebahagiaan lansia yang tinggal di Panti Wreda,” Cross-border, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 1023–1038, 2022.
[9] A. A. K. Rahsyani and P. A. P. Purwati, “The Effect of Family Social Support, Physical Health, and Religiosity on the Quality of Life and Happiness of the Elderly in Tabanan Regency,” Futurity of Social Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 120–139, 2024.
[10] A. Segura, D. Cardona, A. Segura, C. A. Robledo, and D. I. Muñoz, “The subjective perception of the happiness of older adult residents in Colombia,” Front. Med. (Lausanne)., vol. 10, p. 1055572, 2023.
[11] A. S. A. Silaturrahmi et al., “Happiness Among the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Study,” Jurnal Psikologi Terapan, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 49–60, 2025.
[12] G. Sumarsih, W. Freska, T. Desriza, and B. Hernowo, “Social interaction and successful aging in elderly with chronic diseases,” Jurnal Konseling dan Pendidikan, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 233–241, 2024.
[13] Z. Beygi, M. Solhi, S. F. Irandoost, and A. F. Hoseini, “The relationship between social support and happiness in older adults referred to health centers in Zarrin Shahr, Iran,” Heliyon, vol. 9, no. 9, p. e19529, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10558722/
[14] S. Sulandari et al., “A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between physical capability, social support, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction in older adults,” The Gerontologist, vol. 64, no. 11, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/64/11/gnae128/7749650
[15] A. Duque, M. Molins, M. Aliño, et al., “Resilience and social support as predictors of life satisfaction in healthy older adults: A moderation analysis,” medRxiv (preprint), 2024/2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.24.25328287v1.full.pdf
[16] J. M. Monteiro, R. Gonçalves, A. Bastos, and M. R. Barbosa, “Social engagement and wellbeing in late life: A systematic review,” Ageing & Society, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/social-engagement-and-wellbeing-in-late-life-a-systematic-review/B2316932EC196AC8BA8CEFA83DD71175
[17] L. Skufca, “Happiness in mid and later life: 2024 survey of adults age 50 and older,” AARP Research, Jul. 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/social-leisure/relationships/happiness-drivers-older-adults/