An Examination of Perceived Multidimensional Social Support and Well-Being within Group Exercise Programs for Community-Dwelling Seniors

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Pham Duc Toan, Kam-Fong Lee, Lim Boon Hooi, Le Trung Kien, Abel Raj

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between perceived multidimensional social support and well-being within group exercise programs for community-dwelling seniors, addressing a gap in the existing literature. The research involved 162 older adults from two communities in Selangor, Malaysia, who participated in structured group exercise sessions. A quantitative survey methodology was employed, utilizing the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to assess perceived support and the BBC Well-Being Scale to evaluate overall well-being. Community leaders were engaged to facilitate the study's approval and implementation. Descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize the demographic and variable data, while Pearson correlation analysis was employed to explore the relationships between the variables. Notably, the study revealed that 63% of participants were male, highlighting a gender disparity in exercise participation consistent with prior research. The findings indicated no significant correlation between perceived social support and overall well-being among respondents (r(160) = -0.113, p > .05), with a weak negative correlation suggesting that increases in perceived social support did not translate into meaningful improvements in well-being. These results challenge existing literature that typically emphasizes a positive relationship between social support and well-being, suggesting that the dynamics of these relationships may be more complex in the context of community-based group exercise programs for older adults. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying factors influencing these relationships in this demographic.

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