The Effects of Self Care Capacity of Elderly People in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Chronic Disease on Health-Related Quality of Life: A Two-Mediator Serial Mediation Effect of Social Support and Health Literacy

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the serial mediation effect of social support and health literacy in the relationship between self care capacity and health-related quality of life.Methods: Participants were 169 elderly people who lived in rural areas and were diagnosed with chronic diseases. Data collection was conducted from July 10, 2024 to August 30, 2024 through self-reported questionnaires. The data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics 27 and SPSS PROCESS Macro 4.2 program.Results: The direct effect of self care capacity on health-related quality of life was significant (β = .21, p = .023). The indirect effect of self care capacity on health-related quality of life was β = .14 (95% confidence interval [CI] = =0.01~0.29). The double mediating effect of social support and health literacy in the relationship between self care capacity and health-related quality of life was β = .02 (95% CI=0.01~0.06).Conclusion: It was found that the social support and health literacy of the elderly diagnosed with chronic diseases living in rural areas were affected by self care capacity, which in turn affected health-related quality of life. It is necessary to approach successful aging by improving health-related quality of life through a system that can improve self care capacity, social support, and health literacy by efficiently utilizing community resources.