Facilitator and Inhibitor Factors of Social Participation Based on Health-Based Activities Among the Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: social participation is considered as a determining factor in promoting health and well-being. The aim of this study was to determine the factors facilitating and inhibiting the social participation of the elderly in Kerman in health-oriented activities. Materials and methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study performed on 276 elderly people over 60 years old in different areas of Kerman in 1399. The elderly answered the personal characteristics questionnaire, the questionnaire of social participation of the Canadian Society Health Survey, and health-oriented activities questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistical tests including univariate and multivariate regression were used for data analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26 and p <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean score of social participation of the elderly was 6.71± 4.01. Diseases and health problems (50.3%), costs (39.1%), travel problems (31.1%), impatience (29.3%), and Covid 19 (28.2%) were the most common barriers to social participation, respectively. The elderly who were single, younger, college-educated, and those with less number of children had significantly better social participation. Multivariable analysis showed that physical activity, disease prevention, and health were positively related to social participation of the elderly (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that the social participation of the elderly is affected by the multifactor.  Therefore, planning to manage diseases, increase income, and solve the transportation problems of the elderly are recommended to improve the social participation of the elderly.