Social Connectedness and Mental Health Outcomes in the Elderly Population

Thika Marliana; Ni Putu Widani Astuti; Wijayantono Wijayantono

doi:10.55927/fjmr.v5i3.34

Authors

Thika Marliana Universitas Respati Indonesia
Ni Putu Widani Astuti Universitas Mahasaraswati Denpasar
Wijayantono Wijayantono Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Padang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v5i3.34

Keywords:

Social Connectedness, Mental Health, Elderly Population, Social Support, Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

The growing elderly population has raised concerns regarding mental health challenges, particularly those associated with social isolation and declining social interactions. This study aims to analyze the relationship between social connectedness and mental health outcomes in the elderly population. A quantitative cross-sectional approach was employed involving 60 elderly respondents aged 60 years and above residing in community settings in East Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were collected through structured questionnaires measuring social connectedness and mental health conditions using the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis to determine the relationship between variables. The findings indicate that higher levels of social connectedness are significantly associated with better mental health outcomes among elderly individuals. Elderly respondents who maintained stronger social relationships and community engagement reported lower levels of psychological distress and better emotional well-being. These results highlight the importance of strengthening social support systems and community-based programs for older adults. The study contributes to the understanding of social determinants of mental health in aging populations and provides practical implications for developing interventions that promote active social engagement to improve elderly mental health outcomes.

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