Relationship between Perceived Stress with Spiritual Health among Older Adults with Diabetes Registered to the Association of Diabetes Prevention and Control in Babol, 2013

Demographic transition and aging are global conditions result in increased risk of disability and chronic diseases such as diabetes. Considering stress as having mutual interaction with different aspects of health is vital in treatment of common disorders among older adults with diabetes. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the perceived stress with spiritual health among older adults with diabetes registered to the Association of Diabetes Prevention and Control in Babol. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional (descriptive- analytical) study، 194 older adults aged 60-75 years old were selected using convenience sampling from the Association of Diabetes Prevention and Control in Babol. Data were collected using the demographic form as well as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (SWB). The validity and reliability of the scales were confirmed previously. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including ANOVA، Chi-Squared tests، t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient in the SPSS-21. The study findings showed that perceived stress was low in a substantial percentage of the elderly (74. 2%) with the mean ± SD of 22. 52±8. 06. Also، the levels of spiritual health were medium to high among most participants (97. 72 ± 11. 51). Interestingly، there was a significant negative relationship between the perceived stress and spiritual health (r=-0. 48، P<0. 001). This study elaborated the relationship between the perceived stress with spiritual health of elderly patients with diabetes. Considering the results، enhancing spiritual health as one of the health dimensions seems necessary.