Loneliness and general health of elderly
Introduction: In recent years attention to elderly is progressing rapidly in countries. Special ‎attention to their mental and physical need is necessary. Loneliness may occur in all age ‎groups, but this is more a problem peculiar to the elderly. Loneliness is a complex concept, &am...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Guilan University of Medical Sciences
2011-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-243-31&slc_lang=en&sid=1 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: In recent years attention to elderly is progressing rapidly in countries. Special ‎attention to their mental and physical need is necessary. Loneliness may occur in all age ‎groups, but this is more a problem peculiar to the elderly. Loneliness is a complex concept, ‎specially affecting the psychosocial well-being of the elderly. The feelings of loneliness have ‎serious consequence on the health of older adults.‎ Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine loneliness and general health of ‎members of the elderly pensioners association of Gilan University of Medical Science in ‎Rasht.‎ Methods: This study was a descriptive– correlational research. Sampling performed, through ‎easy sampling method. ‎‏100‏‎ members of pensioners association from both gender (female and ‎male) took part in the study. Data collection instrument was a questionnaire consisted of three ‎parts. Part one was about demographic data, part two about loneliness that was measured by ‎the UCLA loneliness scale, and part three was general health status with ‎‏28‏‎ questions. Data ‎were analyzed by descriptive-analytical methods, using SPSS ‎‏16‏‎.‎
Results: In this study it was found that married elderly people (p<‎‏0.02‏‎) who were satisfied ‎with living area (p<‎‏0.045‏‎) felt less lonely than others. According to the results of this study ‎the elderly who defined their general health status as good felt less lonely (p<‎‏0.00‏‎).‎
Conclusion: It was demonstrated that loneliness is an important factor decreasing general ‎health and therefore, early identification of loneliness may help maintain the general health of ‎older adults. Health care professionals should be alert to the association of loneliness and ‎adverse health outcomes.‎ |
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| ISSN: | 2588-3712 2588-3720 |