Is the quality of life different in single and remarried elderly?
نویسندگان
1 Department of Nursing, Nursing School, Islamic Azad University, Qaen, Iran
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3 Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery School, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
4 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Due to increasing number of the world population, elderly individual’s quality oflife (QOL) is a matter of concern and marital status as one of the objective measures of QOL is ofparamount importance. This study was done to compare the QOL between single and remarriedelderly.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case–control study was conducted on 200 elderly people inQaen (Southern Khorasan province), Iran. The research sample consisted of two groups of singleand remarried elderly, 100 in each group. A demographic and LEIPAD (an acronym deriving fromthe name of Leiden and Padua universities) QOL questionnaires were completed by the participantsvia interview.RESULTS: There was a significant difference between single and remarried elderly groupsin the QOL (P < 0.001). Linear regression showed that marital status (P < 0.000), economicsituation (P < 001), primary education (P < 0.0002), and diploma (P < 0.030) opposed to the illiteratewere significantly related to the QOL. In other words, being married and higher economic situation andeducation increase the QOL. There was a significant negative correlation between the age (P < 0.000)and QOL. The strongest factor was age.CONCLUSIONS: Marital status, income, and education play an important role in all aspects of QOL inolder adults. Thus, being married can be a protective factor against physical, psychological, and socialproblems in old age. Realizing this issue in consultation process of elderly peoples is recommended.
