Impact of Informal Social Support on Elders as a Social Problem in Social Security Fund and Oil Industry Fund in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistance Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Associated Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Master of Sociology, Social Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Old age consists of the surpassing the average life of human being, outcome of intergenerational relationships, and thus considering as a social problem. It is the end of human life cycles and the elders often have limited regenerative abilities. Therefore, the quality of life plays a significant role in the aging process. The main objective of this paper is to explore the effects of informal social supports networks on the quality of life of old people. The theoretical model of this paper draws on relevant social theories to aging process and quality of life. The results of the survey on 300 old people who are members of two social funds, by random sampling, in Tehran indicated the factors involving social support, such as instrumental support, are effective for the quality of life of old people as long as they integrate with social factors. However, the social relations including social networking and participation of elders in collective activities, independent from non-social support, are more valuable in their quality of life. In addition, in contract to social relations, instrumental support could not play important role in their quality of life.  In other words, those who receive more instrumental support might not have necessarily high quality of life.

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