Examining the Relationship Between Social Health and Prosocial Personality Among the Elderly

Abstract

The primary objective of the present study is to examine the relationship between social health and prosocial personality among elderly men and women. This study employs a survey research method, with a statistical sample consisting of 300 elderly men and women who are members of the retirees’ association in Maragheh. Data were collected using Keyes’ Social Health Questionnaire and the Prosocial Personality Questionnaire developed by Safarinia et al. Data analysis was conducted using one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that elderly men and women with higher levels of social health exhibit a more favorable prosocial personality compared to those with moderate and low levels of social health. Additionally, elderly women demonstrated a higher degree of prosocial personality compared to elderly men. Finally, the interaction effect of gender and social health on prosocial personality was not significant. This finding suggests that the level of social health does not differentially impact prosocial personality between elderly men and women, implying that prosocial personality is not solely determined by social health levels. It can be concluded that neither social health nor gender alone is a definitive determinant of prosocial personality.