General Self Efficacy in Elderly Living in Rest-Homes

Self- efficacy is closely related with different dimensions of the elderly life such as their health and quality of life. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the self- efficacy of the elderly living in rest homes and its relationship with their personal characteristic in west Tehran.

It was a descriptive, cross- sectional study. The sample consisted of 100 above 60 years old males and females elderly who were living in rest- homes of west Tehran for six consecutive months at least. Sample selection was done using stratified sampling with proportionate allocation during 2010. Data collected with GSE-10 and analyzed using T-test, ANOVA, Shefe exact test, and Regression analysis with SPSS (v.16).

The mean score for general self- efficacy was 21.44±3.83 (of maximum of 40 according to GSE-10). ANOVA showed that the difference between the three age groups of 60-70, 71-80, and about 81was significant (p=0.001). Self- efficacy of men was more the women (p=0.003). There was a significant relationship between the elderly self- efficacy and their education (p=0.05), and duration of living in rest- homes (p=0.011). Linear regressions showed that the general self- efficacy was mostly related with sex (β1.54, p=0.004).

Regarding the low level of self- efficacy of the elderly living in the rest- homes, especially the women, more attention should be paid to promotion of their self- efficacy, by heath care professionals. Interventional studies is recommended to assess the effect of appropriate programs on the elderly self- efficacy.