The mediating role of relationship quality in the relation between desire for relationship stability and job stability with feeling lonely in the elderly

Background: Aging is very important these days, because the population of the elderly in the world is increasing day by day. Therefore, the present study is aimed at investigating the relationship between the tendency to the stability of the relationship and the feeling of loneliness in the elderly in Gonabad in 1396. Methods: This is a cross-sectional-correlational study. The statistical population includes all elderly men and women over 60 years old living in Gonabad town. Using Cochran's formula, 350 people were selected as the sample by cluster sampling and matching method. Data collection tools were Pierce (1991) Relationship Quality Questionnaire and Russell (1980) Feeling of Loneliness. The data were analyzed using SPSS23 software and path analysis technique. Results: The results of path analysis showed that the tendency to job stability and the tendency to stabilize the relationship with family members have both direct and indirect effects, but the amount of direct, indirect and total effect on the tendency to stabilize the relationship is greater than the tendency to job stability. The total effect of the desire for job stability on the feeling of loneliness is -1.17 and for the desire for job stability -0.78. That is, the direct, indirect effect and the total effect of the desire to stabilize the relationship are greater than the desire for job stability. Conclusion: Job stability may reduce loneliness in the elderly, but it is the stability of the relationship with the family that both affects the quality of relationships and through it reduces the loneliness of the elderly. In order to strengthen these relationships, it is possible to reduce the feeling of loneliness of the elderly by increasing the awareness of families about the need for stronger emotional bonds with the elderly to create self-worth in them.