Objective  To explore the prevalence and correlates of social isolation among rural elderly and to provide references for developing appropriate intervention measures.

  Methods  Using stratified random cluster sampling, we conducted a face-to-face questionnaire survey among 900 rural residents aged 60 years and above in Ji'nan city, Shandong province from January to February 2019. Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) was adopted to evaluate social isolation of the elderly.

  Results  Of the 881 valid respondents, 30.9% (272), 31.9% (281), and 37.1% (327) were assessed as experiencing social, family, and friend isolation. The results of multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis demonstrated that with a poor self-rated health, reporting a subjective unhappiness, receiving institution-based care, being childless, being satisfied generally or not satisfied to medical services received were significant risk factors for social isolation; while, participating in the new rural cooperative medical insurance was a protective factor against social isolation.

  Conclusion  The proportion of experiencing social isolation is relatively high and mainly influenced by self-rated health, subjective happiness, pattern of elderly care received, number of child, and type of medical insurance among rural elderly residents in Ji'nan city.