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.