Correlation analysis of successful aging and sense of coherence in elderly patients with comorbidities

This study aimed to investigate the status of successful aging and sense of coherence in elderly patients with comorbidities and explore the relationships between them, thereby providing a theoretical basis for promoting the mental health of this population and facilitating their successful aging.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2023 and involved 395 hospitalized elderly patients with comorbidities from a tertiary general hospital in Yunnan Province, China. The General Information Questionnaire, Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), and Successful Aging Inventory (SAI) were administered. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to examine the relationship between successful aging and a sense of coherence.

The mean SOC-13 and SAI scores were 66.74 ± 11.74 and 53.79 ± 11.59, respectively, indicating moderate levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between a sense of coherence and successful aging (r = 0.441, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that a sense of coherence, social participation, and educational level were significant predictors of successful aging (P < 0.05), collectively explaining 25.1% of the total variance.

Elderly patients with comorbidities exhibit moderate levels of successful aging, and enhancing their sense of coherence can promote successful aging in this population.