Study the quality of life among elderly women in Arak in 2013

The growing elderly population in Iran and the association of aging with the high prevalence of physical and mental disorders have increased the necessity of determining quality of life of this age group. The quality of life of elderly women is affected by several factors due to their vulnerability. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the quality of life of elderly women in Arak. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 271 elderly women who lived in Arak in 2013 using classified sampling. Data were obtained via general QOL (SF-36) questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 67.5±7.02 years. The mean (±SD) total scores of SF-36, mental health, and physical health dimensions were 50.22±18.39, 58.54±19.38, and 46.35±20.82, respectively. The mean (±SD) score of eight dimensions of QOL were: general health 45.52±10.79, social function 56.58±24.94, physical pain 47.60±28.27, physical function 51.46±27.05, physical limitation 38.10±42.67, emotional problems 46.22±42.11, vitality 50.16±19.09, and mental health 58.54±19.38. There were significant difference between QOL, marriage, and income (P<0.05). The results showed that the quality of life in this study was average and some factors, such as education, income, marriage, and residential situation, have a direct influence on QOL. Keywords: Elderly, Quality of Life, Women, Study the quality of life among elderly women in Arak in 2013 Print Persian Abstract Author(s): davood hekmatpou1, farzaneh jahani *, fatemeh Behzadi1 1- arak- Basij Square- Payambar Azam academic callage Bachelor of science Arak university of medical sciences, arak- Basij Square- Payambar Azam academic callage, jahani@arakmu.ac.ir Study Type: Original Atricle | Subject: General | Receive: 2013/12/25 - Accept: 2014/02/26 - Publish: 2014/04/20 Article abstract: The growing elderly population in Iran and the association of aging with the high prevalence of physical and mental disorders have increased the necessity of determining quality of life of this age group. The quality of life of elderly women is affected by several factors due to their vulnerability. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the quality of life of elderly women in Arak. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 271 elderly women who lived in Arak in 2013 using classified sampling. Data were obtained via general QOL (SF-36) questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS software. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 67.5±7.02 years. The mean (±SD) total scores of SF-36, mental health, and physical health dimensions were 50.22±18.39, 58.54±19.38, and 46.35±20.82, respectively. The mean (±SD) score of eight dimensions of QOL were: general health 45.52±10.79, social function 56.58±24.94, physical pain 47.60±28.27, physical function 51.46±27.05, physical limitation 38.10±42.67, emotional problems 46.22±42.11, vitality 50.16±19.09, and mental health 58.54±19.38. There were significant difference between QOL, marriage, and income (P<0.05). The results showed that the quality of life in this study was average and some factors, such as education, income, marriage, and residential situation, have a direct influence on QOL.