Zahra Ghasemi - Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Fatemeh Mohammadi - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Jamileh Amirzadeh-Iranagh - Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Hossein Khorani - Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Seyedeh Ameneh Motalebi - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

Objectives: The present study examined the role of social support in protecting against disability among older people residing in Poldasht, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran in ۲۰۱۸. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken on ۳۰۵ older adults who were selected by random sampling method. The World Health Organization standardized disability scale (WHODASS۲) and multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) were applied to collect the data. Data analysis was run through a multiple linear regression model by SPSS software, version ۲۳. The significance level was set at P≤۰.۰۵. Results: The mean age of older people was ۶۹.۱۳±۷.۶۳ years. The highest incidence of disability was in the subscale of community participation (n=۱۱۱, ۳۶.۴%) and mobility (n=۱۱۱, ۳۶.۴%). The results revealed that age (β=۰.۳۲, P<۰.۰۰۱), financial status (β=۰.۱۴, P=۰.۰۰۲), job (β=-۰.۱۸, P=۰.۰۲), number of physical illnesses (β=-۰.۲۱, P<۰.۰۰۱), and social support (β=-۰.۱۷, P<۰.۰۰۱) were predictive factors of disability among older people. Discussion: The results showed a high prevalence of disability among older people. Given the protective role of social support in reducing disability, it is suggested to consider this cost-effective factor in attempts to deal with disability and then promote the quality of life of this vulnerable group.

Aging, Disability evaluation, Social support