فصلنامه سالمند
پیاپی 28 (بهار 1392)

The aim of the present study is to construct and norm-find a rating scale in elderly stressors

We prepared a checklist including 100 items based on stressors scales and questionnaires، elderly problem checklists، sciences index and reference، interview with professional experts and elderly. The checklist was reduce to 45 items after review by experts and then to 40 items after initial analyses (pilot execution). Our Research population was total Elderly aged above 60 years old that had used insurance services in the year 1390. Sample sizes of 300 were selected by purposeful sampling and were interviewed by the use of target scale. 30 elderly of the sampling were retested by the target scale and test by holms and rahe scale and GHQ after 2 weeks.

Data analyses shows 6 factors that explain 68. 47% of the total variance. The scale validity approved by content validity and correlation between scale scores and GHQ subscales confirmed construct validity of the scale. Scales reliability estimated by variety of methods، by Cronbach’s alpha is 0. 95، by spearman brown is 0. 84، test-retest is 0. 79 and by pair form shows 0. 81. Scale’s cut off point classify elderly in 5 category in term of intensity of stress include very low، low، moderate، sever and very sever. We recommend using this scale with confidence in research and screen purpose or other situation.

Aquatic exercise is one of the major activities that recommend to elderly people. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aquatic endurance exercise on the mental health، physical symptoms، social performance، anxiety and depression of the male elders.

In this study، 30 male elders were selected and randomly divided into control and experimental groups. First، all subjects completed General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Then the experimental group received 6 weeks aquatic endurance exercise (three sessions per week) for six weeks and the control group performed their daily routine activities. After the training intervention، both groups again completed the GHQ - 28. Data analysis with paired and independent samples t-test was performed.

The results showed that aquatic endurance exercise has significant effect on mental health (p = /000)، physical symptoms (p = /000)، social performance (p = /000)، anxiety (p = /034) and depression (p = /000) of the experimental groups، while in the control group who had not participated in aquatic endurance exercises، no significant changes were observed. The results also showed that there is a significant difference (p = /001) between the average score of mental general health of experimental and control group after the exercise.

Based on this study it can be concluded that aquatic endurance exercise has a positive impact to geriatric psychiatric assessment on the mental general health، physical symptoms، social performance، anxiety and depression

Falling down is one of the most common problems that involve old people. It may affect the physical، emotional and social aspects of individual’s health and may cause economical and social problems for individuals and society.

In a cross sectional study، 750 old people with ages of 55 or more، living in the city of Shiraz (409 female، 341 male، mean ages 67/32 year) with a convenience sampling method took part in this study. A questionnaire was designed to gather the information about the history of falling down on past year، its complications and the possible associated factors. Chi square and Mann_ Witeny test and logistic regression method was used to analyze the study data.

the prevalence of falling down was 33/6%. 20. 4% of people had single falling down and 13. 2% of them had recurrent falling down. There were significant correlations between falling down and age (P = 0/016)، sex (P<0/0001)، diabetes (P = 0/008)، vertigo (P<0/0001). However no significant correlation was found between falling down with arthritis، heart disease، nervous system disease، rheumatologic disease، hypertension and use of cane and glass. There were significant correlation between recurrent falling down and sex (P=0. 021)، vertigo (P<0/0001) and osteoporosis (P=0. 024). Also، use of cane (P=0. 023) and arthritis (P=0. 048) were associated with falling down with injury.

According to results of this study، one third of old people over 55 year living in the community experienced falling down within one year. Diabetes and vertigo increased the risk of falling down in elderly population. Planning for controlling these risk factors can reduce the rate of falling down and its associated problems and complications.