Mental health service needs and mental health of old adults living alone in urban and rural areas in China: The role of coping styles

This study aimed to explore the level and relationship between the mental health service needs (MHSN), cop-ing styles (CS), and mental health (MH) of old adults living alone in urban and rural, and to explore the mod-erating effects of coping styles. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 717 older adults living alone. The survey measured MHSN, CS, and MH. Data were analyzed using a structural equation and bootstrapping method. There were significant differences in the MHSN, CS, and MH between urban and rural old adults liv-ing alone (P < 0.05). The model of the impact of MHSN on MH in urban and rural old adults living alone showed a good fit. These findings highlighted the importance of high MHSN and positive CS as potential pro-tective factors of mental health in old adults living alone. This provides a theoretical basis for psychological nursing for old adults living alone in the community. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.