Elderly Health Journal
Volume:8 Issue: 2, Dec 2022

Taking into account the growth of increase in the elderly population in Iran and the world, and the emergence of the phenomenon of feminization of aging, the present study has been conducted, with aim of examining the relationship between anxiety about aging and the perceived  and experienced gender inequality among the women of Shiraz city (Iran).

This cross-sectional study has been carried on 30 to 70 years old women in the city of Shiraz. The requied sample size is estimated to be 405 individuals, and the participants selected through a stratified random sampling. Data collection has taken place by a questionnaire which some of the questions of that were made by the authors and some are borrowed from anxiety about aging scale.The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 21 using pearson corellation tests.

Experienced inequality has a significant positive correlation with anxiety about aging (total) (r = 0.226; p < 0.01). The relation between perceived inequality has also been positive and significant with anxiety about aging (total) (r = 132; p < 0.05). Furthermore, there is a significant relationship between gender inequality (perceived and experienced) and anxiety about aging in different aspects, including social and economic fears, psychological fears, fear of losing the feminine position, fear of losing health, and fear of physical changes and changes in appearance.

The anxiety about aging increases among women who experience and percive gender inequality. According to the accelerating process of population aging and the importance of paying attention to the social, psychological, and physical health of elderly women, it is necessary to take more considerations into account. In this regard, planning for decreasing the gender gap and inequality can be effective to some extent. Seemingly, the intersection of “the phenomenon of feminization of poverty,” due to gender inequality, with the phenomenon of “feminization of aging” in the future brings to the fore the necessity of paying attention to “anxiety about aging.”

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological sensory-motor disorder that is observed as an unpleasant sensation in the legs, especially when sitting or lying down and at rest. This study aimed to determine the prevalence RLS and its related factors among older adults in Eslamabad-e-Gharb, Kermanshah province, Iran in 2021.

Totally, 240 elderlies entered the study using two stages random sampling. The instruments used in the study included the International RLS Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Mind Wandering Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pain Self-efficacy Questionnaire.

Symptoms of RLS were mild in 68.3% of the participants and severe in 14.2% of them. There was a statistically significant relationship between RLS and sleep quality (p = 0.001) and daily drowsiness (p = 0.034). The chance of developing RLS in the group with poor sleep quality was 22% higher than the group with good sleep quality (OR = 1.22). Also, people with drowsiness were 13% more likely to develop RLS than others (OR = 1.131), and in the age group of 71-80 years and over 80 years, 6% and 2% higher than the 60-70 years respectively (OR = 1.068 and 1.023). No statistically significant relationship was found between RLS with mind wandering and pain self-efficacy.

Due to the high prevalence of RLS and its relationship with sleep quality and daily drowsiness among older adults, implementation of RLS screening to identify patients to prevent sleep disorders seems necessary. The relation of RLS with mind wandering and pain self-efficacy need further studies.

Considering the increasing trend of the elderly population in Iran, attention paid to this critical phase, both socially and psychologically, is essential in improving their quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate prediction of quality of life - based on personality traits and spiritual intelligence in the elderly.

This correlational study  carried out on older adults in Tehran who lived in nursing homes in 2020 and 182 of them were selected by convenience sampling. The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI), The Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24) and Leiden-Padua Questionnaire (LEIPAD questionnaire) were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation and stepwise regression analysis) were used for data analysis. The correlation matrix and stepwise regression were used to predict the quality of life scores based on personality and spiritual intelligence.

There was a significant relationship between personality traits with spiritual intelligence and quality of life (r: 0.361, p < 0.05). Also, there was a significant relationship between spiritual intelligence and quality of life (p < 0.05). Personality traits of neuroticism, extraversion, and spiritual intelligence could predict a total of 38.5% of the variance in quality of life (p < 0.05).

The quality of life has a significant relationship with both spiritual intelligence and personality traits, so, spiritual intelligence and personality components can predict the quality of life in the elderly.

An important issue associated with old age is how to spend the leisure, which can help preserve independence, bring happiness and vitality and reduce mental disorders and indifference. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate how older adults spend their leisure time.

The cross-sectional study was conducted with 270 elderly participants (> 60 years) in Yazd city, Iran from July to September 2019. The two stage sampling method was applied. A researcher-made leisure activity questionnaire was used for data gathering. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed. The data were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive statistics and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation coefficient.

The mean leisure time of participants was 5.09 ± 3.54 hours. Most of the participants (74.4 %) spent their leisure time at home. Physical activity (25.2 %) and travel (33.8 %) were at a low level while religious activity (61.6 %) was the most frequent. Of the participants, 50.7 % were moderately satisfied with their leisure.

Considering the low level of physical activity and travel in older adults' leisure time, both the government and families are suggested to make the required plans to increase older adults' physical activity and time for travel.

Elder abuse is a major public health concern worldwide. Considering the high prevalence of misbehavior towards the elderly, this study investigated the prevalence of elder abuse and its related factors among the elderly people in Yasouj, Iran in 2021.

Using a convenience sampling method, this cross-sectional study included 299 older adults aged over 60 years referring to the Social Security Outpatient Clinic in Yasouj. To collect data, we used the Domestic Elder Abuse Questionnaire. To analyze the data, chi-square and multiple logistic regression statistical tests were used.

Of the participants, 55.2 % reported at least one type of misbehavior. While psychological misbehavior had the highest prevalence (41.8 %), rejection had the lowest prevalence (10.7 %). Multiple regression analysis showed that elder abuse was statistically associated with higher educational status (p = 0.002), lower economic status (p = 0.002), and single people reported a higher rate of elder abuse (p = 0.001).

According to our results, more than half of the participants reported at least one type of elder abuse, and psychological abuse was the most common type of abuse experienced by the elderly. Since elder abuse can have serious effects on the health and well-being of the elderly, it is critical to identify the related risk factors. Furthermore, it is essential to implement screening programs to increase the awareness of the elderly and caregivers.

Technology can improve the health care outcomes of the elderly. However, there are many barriers to the adoption of mobile monitoring and care systems (MMCs) by the elderly reported in literature. The main purpose of this research was to investigate why elderly people do not adopt MMCs to improve the quality of their health care.

The study made use of semi-structured interviews to collect data in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. The study sample consisted of 15 purposively chosen study participants, representing a diverse racial profile, in order to investigate the adoption of MMCs of the elderly in their home environment.  The interviews were analysed thematically.

The study found that social challenges like technology anxiety, the intrusive nature of the technology and attitude towards the technology will affect adoption of MMCs. Government need to address the standardisation, data governance and interoperability of the systems. The cost of MMCs were seen as an inhibitor, but could be off set against the perceived return on investment of health care. While the elderly acknowledged that MMCs can improve their independence, the design of the MMCs and training to use it was identified as barriers to the adoption.

The study, therefore, recommends collaborative engagements amongst government, business and the elderly to facilitate the adoption of MMCs in the elderly community to improve the quality of health care.