Life quality and daily life activities of elderly people in rural areas, Eskişehir (Turkey)

Mental pain as a mediator in the association between avoidant attachment and suicidal ideation among older men

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, our aim was to deepen the understanding of suicidality in older men by adopting a biopsychosocial approach. The study focused on older men as they face an elevated risk of suicide, surpassing not only other age groups but also exhibiting higher rates compared to women. We examined the contribution of mental pain as a mediator in the association between attachment avoidance and suicidal ideation among older men, taking into consideration the severity of their physical illnesses.

METHODS

Participants were 200 men in Israel, aged ≥65 years, living in the community and without cognitive impairment. Data collection was based on self-report measures of suicidal ideation (Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, BSSI), attachment (Experience in Close Relationships, ECR-R), mental pain (Orbach and Mikulincer Mental Pain Scale, OMMP), and the severity of physical illnesses (Cumulative Illnesses Rating Scale, CIRS).

RESULTS

Mental pain was found to mediate the association between attachment avoidance and suicidal ideation, but only among participants with higher levels of physical illnesses.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental pain should be considered as a complication of an avoidant coping strategy, which increases the risk of suicide among older men, especially those suffering from significant physical illnesses. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

The role of meaning in life as a protective factor in suicidal ideation among elderly men with physical illnesses

The highest suicide rates are among elderly men. The aim of the present study is to extend previous findings by focusing on meaning in life as a protective factor for suicidal ideation among elderly men. Self-report measures were administered to 170 elderly men aged 65 and over in community. Meaning in life and physical illness predicted suicidal ideation among elderly men. Physical illness moderated the association between meaning in life and suicidal ideation. In the young-old group (ages 65-74), meaning in life predicted suicidal ideation among those who reported higher rates of physical illness. This moderation effect was not found among the older group (aged 75 years and older). The findings of this study highlight the importance of age-differences in studying suicidal ideation among elderly men. Our findings emphasize the importance of cultivating and maintaining meaning in life when coping with chronic illnesses and point at meaning in life as a goal in therapeutic interventions designed to reduce suicidal ideation among elderly.

The effects of a temporal processing-based auditory training program on the auditory skills of elderly users of hearing aids: a study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Background: One of the most important effects of age-related declines in neural processing speed is the impairment of temporal resolution, which leads to difficulty hearing in noisy environments. Since the central auditory system is highly plastic, by designing and implementing a temporal processing-based auditory training program, we can help the elderly improve their listening skills and speech understanding in noisy environments.

Methods: In the first phase of this research, based on the theoretical framework of temporal processing, an auditory training solution was developed as a software program. In the second phase, which will be described in the present study, the effects of the designed program on the listening skills of the elderly users of hearing aids (age: 60-75 years) will be studied in the control and intervention groups. In the intervention group, the auditory training program will be implemented for three months (36 sessions), and the results of central tests (GIN, DPT, QuickSIN) and the electrophysiological speech-ABR test will be compared in both groups before, immediately and one month after the intervention.

Discussion: Since temporal processing is not sufficient in auditory training programs for the elderly with hearing impairments, implementation of a temporal processing-based auditory training program can reduce hearing problems in noisy environments among elderly users of hearing aids.

Trial registration: This study was registered as a clinical trial in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( IRCT20190921044838N1) on December 25, 2019.

Descriptive phenomenological study on ego-integrity among older people in nursing homes

This study aimed to describe, interpret, and understand the phenomenon of ego integrity among nursing home residents using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data were collected by conducting in-depth face-to-face interviews with 18 nursing home residents with the aid of a pilot-tested semi-structured interview guide. The authors followed a systematic analytic procedure. Key themes and subthemes emerged when the codes were combined. The responses of the residents were classified under three themes: (i) existential well-being, (ii) future expectations, and (iii) regrets regarding past life stages. The results underscored the important role of ego integrity in structuring one's life in the later years. A lack of ego integrity had resulted in negative perceptions of life, a lack of future plans, and existential suffering. The findings underscore the importance of assessing ongoing temporal changes in the ego integrity of nursing home residents and providing effective programs that enhance their sense of ego integrity.

Impact of Seniors Centers on oral health-related quality of life of older adults

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of older adults participating or not in Seniors Centers (SC).

METHODS

Two independent samples were compared: older adults who participate in SC (n = 124) and older adults who visited Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and do not participate in SC (n = 164). The data collected consisted of sociodemographic (sex, age, educational level, marital status, family income) and psychosocial characteristics—Sense of Coherence (SOC), anxiety and depression using HADS, happiness—, and oral clinical evaluation—use and need of dental prosthesis and decayed (D), missing (M), or filled (F) teeth. The resulting OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the associations between the independent variables and the OHIP-14. Poisson regression models were also used in the analyses (α=0.05).

RESULTS

In the PHC, of the 270 individuals invited to participate in the study, 164 (60.7%) were interviewed and clinically examined; while in the SC, of the 166 individuals invited to participate in the study, 124 (74.7%) were interviewed and clinically examined. After adjustments for sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical factors, we found that the impact on OHRQoL was 2.8 times higher (95%CI 2.0–4.2) for older adults who did not participate in SC.

CONCLUSION

Older adults who participated in SC showed better perception on OHRQoL, independently of sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical factors.

Impacts of Leisure and Tourism on the Elderly’s Quality of Life in Intimacy: A Comparative Study in Japan

Highly social activities like leisure and tourism are considered to have positive effects on the elderly’s mental health. Taking Japan as a case study, this research aims to clarify how leisure and tourism contribute to the elderly’s quality of life (QOL) in the domains of leisure and intimacy by comparing populated and depopulated areas. Such research has strong implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through healthy aging, but relevant efforts are quite limited. In this study, leisure and tourism behaviors are captured by visit frequency, travel party and expenditure. Quality of life is measured by happiness and life satisfaction in different life domains, in line with the life-oriented approach. Data were collected in 2014 via a nationwide online survey in Japan. Applying a structural equation model (SEM) approach, it is found that leisure behavior contributes to maintaining the elderly’s QOL in leisure life and intimacy domains. Tourism behavior only contributes to QOL in populated areas. Leisure activities strongly enhance QOL in terms of intimacy and improve the neighborhood relationship of the elderly in depopulated areas and family life in populated areas. Enriching daily leisure activities for the elderly would improve their intimate relationships in depopulated areas.

The vision of bedfast nursing home residents of their quality of life and the contribution of technological innovations in and around the bed

Purpose

Over 8 per cent of the Dutch nursing home population is bedfast, and this number is slowly increasing. The quality of life (QoL) of this population is lower than that of residents who are still mobile. Little research has been conducted on how to improve the QoL of this bedfast population, particularly through making technological adjustments to the bed and the direct surroundings. The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the QoL of bedfast residents and how to improve this through technology.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method multi-case study with thematic analysis was conducted in two nursing homes with seven participants based on semi-structured interviews and Short Form-12 questionnaire.

Findings

The major causes of the experienced low QoL were the limited opportunities for engaging in social contacts with others, and coping with the dependency on other people and having limited control. Participants suggested improvements of QoL through the application of modern communication technologies to engage in social contacts and to control the bed itself and environment around the bed.

Practical implications

The results may help improve the design of the bed and the direct environment in order to improve the QoL of bedfast nursing home residents.

Originality/value

The QoL of bedfast nursing home residents has not been studied before in relation to the bed itself and technological solutions that may help improve the QoL and level of control.

Association of Self-Care Behaviors and Quality of Life among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Chaldoran County, Iran

BACKGROUND

Self-care of diabetes is an essential part for controlling the disease and improvement of quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This study aimed to analyze the associated factors of quality of life in patients with T2DM in order to design effective interventions.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 T2DM patients referred to health centers of Chaldoran, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The quality of life's questionnaires from World Health Organization and the self-care behaviors' questionnaires were used for data collection.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 46.30% and 53.30% of them were male. Among demographic variables, gender (P=0.002), age groups (P=0.007), and household monthly income (P=0.009) were significantly associated with total quality of life. Also, self-care nutrition (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; P=0.001), self-management of blood glucose control (OR, 1.29; P=0.002), and self-medication behavior (OR, 1.18; P=0.030) were identified as factors significantly associated with quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Self-care behaviors were significantly associated with quality of life; among them, the greatest influence was observed in self-care nutrition behavior. According to the findings of this study, appropriate interventions on self-care behaviors about nutrition can improve the quality of life for T2DM patients.

Retirement homes: Social participation and quality of life

Introduction

Social participation is considered as a means of improving one’s quality of life, thus the study aimed at assessing the association between the quality of life and social participation in the elderly.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. The study population was selected from among the residents of a retirement home (an elderly residential home) in one of the Northwestern provinces of Iran, and the required data was collected via three questionnaires related to the demographic data, the specific quality of life for the elderly (LEIPAD), and the extent of social participation. Data was analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Spearman correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis test in SPSS software.

Results

The social participation level of the population under study was estimated as being appropriate (mean score: 3.81±0.32); whereas, the respondents’ quality of life was estimated as being relatively inappropriate (mean score: 2.78±0.41). The “art, sport and leisure activities” subscale showed a significant relationship with the subscales related to the total quality of life and those of “Physical Performance” (r=0.128, p=0.46), “depression and anxiety”(r=0.114, p=0.051), “sexual performance”(r=0.213, p=0.21), and “life satisfaction”(r=0.272, p=0.11); furthermore, there was a significant relationship between total social participation and “life satisfaction” and the subscales related to “depression and anxiety”(r=0.263, p=0.12).

Conclusions

It seems that activities that involve the art, sport and leisure subscale of social participation can result in quality of life improvement for the elderly.

What affects the subjective sleep quality of hospitalized elderly patients?

AIM

The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the subjective sleep quality in elderly inpatients.

METHODS

The participants were 290 older adults admitted in three general hospitals. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of scales for general characteristics, sleep quality, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and depression. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way anova, Scheffé post-hoc, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences in sleep quality according to age, education level, marital status, monthly income and number of cohabitants. The most powerful predictor of sleep quality was depression (P < 0.01, R²  = 0.30). Five variables, depression, perceived health status, diagnosis, number of cohabitants and duration of hospitalization; explained 43.0% of the total variance in sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly inpatients suffered from low sleep quality, and depression affected their sleep. We should develop and apply hospital-tailored sleep interventions considering older adults' depression, and then hospitalized older adults' sleep could improve. Furthermore, it is useful to identify other sleep-related factors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 471-479.

SOCIOECONOMIC AND HEALTH CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY QUILOMBOLAS

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify the socioeconomic and health conditions associated with quality of life of elderly quilombolas. Cross-sectional, epidemiological and census study, conducted with 427 elderly individuals of a quilombola population enrolled in Family Health Strategies of 17 quilombas communities in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, four districts of the region. Data collection was performed using tools and analyzed based on descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation (rsp). The factors associated with some areas of Quality of Life and the General Quality of Life Index included the per capita income, the self-assessment of health status and the classification of depression cases, which most strongly affected the quality of life of the elderly quilombolas investigated. The expanded access to health services and the integrality of health care for this group are essential, particularly involving Family Health Teams.

The Relationship between Quality of Life and Cognitive Functions, Anxiety and Depression among Hospitalized Elderly Patients

Objective

Older people seek not only a longer life, but also a better quality of life (QOL). Our aim was to find out the relationship between QOL and socio-demographic factors, social activities, cognitive status, depression and anxiety symptoms among medically ill and hospitalized elderly people in Turkey.

Methods

Two hundred forty three patients age 65 years or older were examined. The Socio-demographic Data Survey, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale-short form (GDS-15), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-OLD) were applied to participants. The independent samples t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze quantitative data. Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis were performed.

Results

The total score for QOL was significantly higher for those who saw their family members and relatives frequently rather than rarely (p=0.002), who were always busy with social activities rather than rarely or never (p<0.001), who had more years of education (p=0.003), and who were frequently exercising (p=0.023). According to linear regression analysis, the WHOQOL-OLD total score increased by 0.295 and −0.936 units, while MMSE and GDS-15 scale scores increased one unit respectively (β=0.295, t=1.979, p=0.04; β=−0.936, t=−4.881, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Cognitive disabilities, depression, and other psychiatric problems along with medical disease negatively affect the QOL of elderly patients. While performing medical assessment regarding elders, detecting and treating cognitive disabilities and depression is very valuable in improving the QOL of elderly patients.

Depression Affects the Scores of All Facets of the WHOQOL-BREF and May Mediate the Effects of Physical Disability among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND

Geriatric depression is associated with the overall quality of life (QOL). However, how depressive symptoms affect the different domains and facets of QOL in older adults, and whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between physical disability and QOL in older adults are unclear.

METHODS

A total of 490 ambulatory community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or above were interviewed using the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Sequential models for multiple linear regressions were analysed to determine if the MBI, GDS-15 and MMSE scores predict the WHOQOL-BREF scores. The potential mediation effects of depression (as determined by the GDS-15) on the relationship between MBI and WHOQOL-BREF were also analysed.

RESULTS

The GDS-15 score was predictive of the scores of the four domains and all 26 facets of the WHOQOL-BREF. The significant predictive effects of the MBI score on 15 of the 26 facets of the WHOQOL-BREF were reduced to three after the adjustment for the GDS-15 score. Depression (as assessed by the GDS-15) is a mediator of the relationship between MBI and the physical, psychological and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression (assessed by the GDS-15) may affect the scores of every domain and all facets of the WHOQOL-BREF in the elderly. Furthermore, it may mediate the relationship between the MBI and on QOL scores. We recommend taking depressive symptoms into consideration when measuring community-dwelling older adults' QOL and providing active ageing programs.

Condições de saúde e variáveis sociodemográficas associadas à qualidade de vida em idosas de um programa de atividade física de Curitiba, Paraná, Sul do Brasil

O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a associação entre variáveis sociodemográficas e condições de saúde com os domínios da qualidade de vida em idosas participantes do programa Idoso em Movimento. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 1.806 idosas, que foram avaliadas por meio de entrevista para os potenciais correlatos de qualidade de vida (WHOQOL-BREF e WHOQOL-OLD). O índice de massa corporal foi calculado após aferição do peso e da estatura. Os domínios da qualidade de vida foram classificados em tercis. Para análise dos dados, foi utilizada a regressão logística ordinal. Após ajustes para variáveis de confusão, a faixa etária, classe econômica, escolaridade, situação ocupacional e estado civil estiveram associados a alguns domínios da qualidade de vida (p < 0,05). Além disso, idosas obesas ou com problemas de saúde apresentaram menor razão de chance de estar nos escores mais elevados de qualidade de vida, e as idosas que usavam um ou dois medicamentos apresentaram maior razão de chance de estar nos escores mais elevados do domínio físico. Como conclusão, os fatores sociodemográficos e as condições de saúde estão associados com a qualidade de vida em idosas.

[Influence of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics on the quality of life]

INTRODUCTION

The quality of life is a multidimensional concept, which is best expressed by the subjective well-being. Evaluation of the quality of life is the basis for measuring the well-being, and the determination of factors that determine the quality of life quality is the basis for its improvement.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and assess the determinants of the perceived quality of life of group distinguishing features which characterize demographic and socioeconomic factors.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the population in Serbia aged over 20 years (9479 examinees). The quality of life was expressed by the perception of well-being (pleasure of life). Data on the examinees (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) were collected by using a questionnaire for adults of each household. To process, analyze and present the data, we used the methods of parametric descriptive statistics (mean value, standard deviation, coefficient of variation), variance analysis and factor analysis.

RESULTS

Although men evaluated the quality of life with a slightly higher grading, there was no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of the quality of life in relation to the examinee's gender (p > 0.005). Among the examinees there was a high statistically significant difference in grading the quality of life depending on age, level of education, marital status and type of job (p < 0.001). In relation to the number of children, there was no statistically significant difference in he grading of the quality of life (p > 0.005).

CONCLUSION

The quality of life is influenced by numerous factors that characterize each person (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of individual). Determining factors of the quality of life are numerous and diverse, and the manner and the strength of their influence are variable.