جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « Elderly women » در نشریات گروه « پزشکی »

Considering the importance of population aging phenomenon and psychological problems of the elderly, it is very important to identify ways to improve the psychological health of the elderly, so the present study was conducted with the aim of the role of emotional capital and resilience in predicting the psychological health of elderly women.

In a descriptive-correlation study, 120 people were selected as a sample from the researched community, which included all the elderly women covered by the Imam Khomeini (RA) relief committee of South Khorasan province in the fall of 2023, using available sampling method. The collection of information included emotional capital questionnaires of Golperor (2015), Connor and Davidson's resilience (2003) and the psychological health subscale of the World Health Organization (2000). In data analysis, Pearson correlation test and multiple regression were used with the help of SPSS version 24 software.

The results showed that there was a direct relationship between emotional capital and resilience with the psychological health of elderly women, and emotional capital predicted 35.6% and resilience 15.7% of the variance of psychological health of elderly women (p<0.01).

The research results have provided practical implications for experts in the field of geriatric psychology, so that by increasing emotional capital and resilience, the psychological health of elderly women can be increased.

Aging is a natural phenomenon in the path of human evolution. The elderly face many challenges at this stage. Anxiety, depression, and grief over the loss of loved ones can affect the general well-being of an elderly person. Structured reminiscence therapy is one of the therapeutic methods used to improve mental health and general well-being of the elderly. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of structured reminiscing on the dimensions of general well-being of elderly women in Yazd.

The quasi-experimental research method was a pretest-posttest type with a control group, and the statistical population included all the elderly women in Yazd city in 1402. Among them, 46 people were selected by purposeful sampling and assigned to two experimental and control groups. The tool used in this research was general well-being questionnaire of Harold G. and Dapoy. Structured reminiscing was conducted on the experimental group during 8 sessions of 60 minutes, and the control group did not receive any intervention. The results were analyzed using statistical software Spss25 and Manova test.

The results showed that structured reminiscing had an effect on the dimensions of general well-being, including anxiety, depression, positive well-being, feeling of self-control, and general health. Regarding the feeling of vitality dimension, the training could not be effective and there was no improvement in this dimension.

Therefore, structured reminiscence is used as an intervention to improve the dimensions of general well-being of the elderly women, and mental health of the elderly.

Older individuals experience COVID-19 with more severe clinical manifestations than younger people do, both physically and mentally. Consequently, elderly individuals exhibit greater susceptibility to the COVID-19 virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between hope and death anxiety in elderly women, considering the mediating role of COVID-19 anxiety and psychological hardiness.

A sample of 265 women aged 60 and older from Qazvin was selected through convenience sampling. Various measurement instruments were employed in the research, including Snyder’s Adult Hope Scale (AHS), Ahvaz Psychological Hardiness Inventory, COVID-19 Anxiety Questionnaire, and Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale. Path analysis was employed to analyze the causal model.

Findings indicated a good fit between the model and collected data. Also, the results revealed significant direct effects of psychological hardiness (B=-0.32, P=0.01), hope (B=-0.28, P=0.01), and COVID-19 anxiety (B=0.55, P=0.01) on fear of death among the elderly women. Moreover, employing the bootstrapping method for analysis, it was found that psychological hardiness and COVID-19 anxiety mediate the relationship between hope and fear of death.

The findings highlight the mediating influence of COVID-19 anxiety and psychological hardiness in the association between hope and fear of death anxiety among elderly women. Consequently, in developing psychological interventions aimed at managing and addressing fear of death anxiety in this specific group, it is essential to consider the interplay of hope, psychological hardiness, and COVID-19 anxiety.

Feelings of loneliness can affect the mental health of the elderly and lead to cognitive problems. As a potentially effective treatment approach, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has emerged as an intervention to alleviate loneliness among the elderly. This study aims to determine the effect of CBT on alleviating loneliness among elderly women referred to health centers in Khomeini Shahr.

Methods & Materials: 

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2020 on a sample of 60 elderly women who had been referred to health centers in Khomeini Shahr. The participants were conveniently selected and then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control groups. Data were collected using a demographic information form and the Deshiri et al’s loneliness questionnaire, which were administered before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The intervention group received eight counseling sessions of CBT that lasted for 60 minutes each, while the control group did not receive any counseling. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 23, employing descriptive and inferential statistics.

The results obtained from conducting a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant statistical difference in the mean score of loneliness resulting from communication with family, the score of emotional symptoms of loneliness and the total score of loneliness in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P<0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in the control group (P>0.05). Furthermore, when comparing the mean score of loneliness resulting from communication with friends in the intervention group, no statistically significant difference was observed before and after the intervention (P=0.094). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was observed in the control group (P=0.338).

The results of the current study indicate that CBT is an effective approach to alleviate loneliness in elderly women. Therefore, it is suggested that this method be implemented as a means to reduce feelings of loneliness among elderly women.

Elderly is a sensitive period of human life and paying attention to their movement and cognitive needs is a necessity. The aim of the current research was to compare the effect of mindfulness exercises and PETTLEP mental imagery on the balance and continuous attention of elderly women.

The present research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test design. The statistical population of the present study was the elderly of Yazd city, Iran, and the statistical sample included 45 elderly women with the age range of 60-75 years in a targeted and accessible manner, who were randomly assigned to three groups of mindfulness (15 people), PETTLEP mental imagery (15 people), and control (15 people) groups. First, a pre-test was performed for all three groups and then, the experimental groups trained according to the protocol for eight weeks and three sessions per week. At the end of the exercises, a post-test was taken from all three groups.

The results of analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni test showed that there was no significant difference between the mindfulness group and PETTLEP's mental imagery in static balance (P=0.001), but there was a significant difference between the control group with mindfulness (P=0.001) and with PETTLEP visualization (P=0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the mindfulness group and PETTLEP mental imagery (P = 0.001), the control group with mindfulness (P = 0.03), and the control group with PETTLEP imagery in dynamic balance (P = 0.001). Also, there was no significant difference in the correct answer between the mindfulness-awareness group and the PETTLEP mental imagery group (P = 0.001). However, there was a significant difference between the control group with mindfulness (P=0.001) and the control group with PETTLEP visualization (P=0.001).

In general, the results of this research showed that the intervention based on mindfulness and mental imagery of PETTLEP has a significant effect on the movement functions of elderly women. Also, compared to the control group, the experimental groups had a significant improvement in static and dynamic balance factors of continuous attention. According to the results of the research, it is suggested to trainers and those involved in geriatric affairs to use mindfulness and visualization exercises to improve balance and attention in old age.

 Balance deficiency is one of the risk factors for falls, injury or even death of the elderly. This study aimed to investigate The Effect of a Fall Proof training on balance and fear of falling in older women was conducted. 

 This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. Thirty elderly women aged 60-70 years were selected as available for the sample. Subjects were randomly divided into control (n=15) and experimental (n=15) groups. To assess static and dynamic balance, Sharpend Romberg test and time up and go test and to assess fear of falling the fear of falling questionnaire were used. Exercises were performed for 8 weeks, three sessions per week and each session for 60 minutes by experimental group, while the control group did not do any exercise. Analysis of covariance and paired t-test were used to analyze the data

The results of this study showed that a period of Fall Prof Training significantly increased static (P=0.01) and dynamic balance (P=0.01) and a significant decrease in fear of falling (P=0.01) In the experimental group compared to the control group.

 Due to the weak balance and high fear of falling in the elderly, based on the findings of this study, we can use fall proof exercises in elderly rehabilitation and exercise.

Old age is a significant period in life and due to the development of science and improvement in health conditions, the number of elderly participants is increasing in various societies. To promote the adjustment of the elderly population in the society, it is necessary to pay attention to their life satisfaction and attitudes toward aging elderly. Therefore, the present study aimed at effectiveness of psychological empowerment on life satisfaction and attitudes toward aging elderly women in Tehran city.

The statistical population included all women aged 60 to 70 years in Tehran in 1399-1400. 24 participants (12 in the control group and 12 in the experimental group) were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups by available sampling method. Using a pre-test and post-test pilot design with a control group, the elderly first completed life satisfaction and attitudes toward aging questionnaires and then performed a psychological application of psychological empowerment in 8 sessions on the experimental group and after the post-test sessions for both groups was presented. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data using SPSSV19 software.

Ethical Considerations: 

This study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of Arak of Azad University (Code: IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1400.027).

The results showed that psychological empowerment training program on life satisfaction (F = 9.673 and p = 0.006) and attitudes toward aging (F = 8.385 and p = 0.009) between the two groups in two stages. Evaluation has made a significant difference. This means that the psychological empowerment program promoted life satisfaction and attitudes toward aging.

Based on the results of this study, it can be said that psychological empowerment program is effective on life satisfaction and aging attitude of older women and the knowledge of experts in the fields of counseling, aging, psychology and health of these trainings can be helpful.

Nordic walking training has many benefits in improving the condition of the disabled elderly. Then the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Nordic walking training on plasma levels of PGC1α and SIRT6 in elderly women with diabetes.

In this quasi-experimental study, 27 elderly women (age: 65.45±2.70 years) with type 2 diabetes were selected and randomly divided into control groups (n=14) and experimental groups (n= 13). Then, the experimental group performed exercise protocol of Nordic walking training, three days per week for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected before and after the training protocol. ELISA kit was used to measure the biochemical variables of the research.

The analysis of data showed that the levels of PGC1α and SIRT6 in the exercise group compared to the control group increased significantly (P<0.001) and glucose, insulin and resistance of insulin decreased significantly (P<0.001).

Nordic walking training, could reduce glucose, insulin and resistance insulin and increases PGC1α and SIRT6 in elderly women with diabetes, and help improve the metabolic system of the elderly.

The coronavirus disease, as an emerging disease with global spread and high mortality rates among vulnerable groups, in addition to physical symptoms, has led to the occurrence of many psychological disorders such as death anxiety and feeling of loneliness due to the fear of infection. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of group logotherapy and solution-oriented therapy on anxiety and feeling of loneliness in the elderly with the fear of coronavirus. The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and a control group design. The statistical population consisted of the elderly women who took part in the daily rehabilitation centers of the Welfare Institution (Sazman-e Behzisti), in Tabriz, among whom 36 eligible individuals were selected and randomly assigned into two experimental and one control groups. measuers applied in the current study incuded Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale and Russell et al.’s UCLA Loneliness Scale. The experimental groups underwent ten 90-minute therapy sessions, separately and with two different approaches, while the control group did not receive any intervention at the same time. The data were analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS-24 software. The results indicated that logotherapy and Solution-oriented therapy have a significant effect on reducing death anxiety and feeling of loneliness (P<0.05). Although, there was no significant difference between two experimental groups in reducing death anxiety (P>0.05), there was a significant difference between the two experimental groups in reducing loneliness, in a way that the effectiveness of logotherapy was greater (P<0.05). According to the results, logotherapy and solution-oriented therapy can be applied to improve the death anxiety and feeling of loneliness among elderly women with fear of coronavirus. The results indicated that logotherapy and Solution-oriented therapy had a significant effect on reducing death anxiety and feeling of loneliness compared to the control group (P< 0/05). However, there was no significant difference between two experimental groups regarding death anxiety (P> 0/05). In addition, there was a significant difference between the two experimental groups regarding loneliness (P< 0/05), and the effectiveness of logotherapy was greater. According to the results, logotherapy and Solution oriented therapy can be applied to improve the death anxiety and feeling of loneliness among elderly women with fear of coronavirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the physical activity of the elderly because these restrictions have forced them to stay at home. This study aims to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Internet-based aerobic exercise on static and dynamic balance of older women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 The study population consists of all older women in Kermanshah, Iran. Thirty inactive older women participated in the study voluntarily and were randomly divided into exercise and control groups. Static and dynamic balance of participants was measured using stork balance test and timed up and go test, respectively before and after the training protocol. The exercise group performed aerobic exercises provided to them via the Internet on their smartphones, for 8 weeks, three sessions per week. In order to increase the training intensity, the number of movements and repetitions were gradually increased such that the rhythm of aerobic exercises increased from 40 beats per minute to 90 beats per minute in last session. Paired t-test and analysis of covariance in SPSS v. 23 software were used to analyze the data.

 The balance changes from pretest to post-test phase were significant in the exercise group, but not significant in the control group. The internet-based aerobic exercise had a significant effect on static and dynamic balance of older women (P=0.001).

 Performing aerobic exercises provided via the Internet on smartphones can improve the static and dynamic balance of older women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is recommended that older women use Internet-based aerobic exercises to improve their balance skills during the pandemic.

It was late 2019 when a new virus from the Coronavirus family with the ability of spreading in humans was identified in China for the first time. The speed of the global pandemic of this virous and the publication of news regarding its greater risks for the elderly led to numerous psychological disorders in this age group. Therefore, the present study was to consider the effectiveness of group logotherapy on death anxiety, feeling of loneliness and meaning of life in the elderly with fear of Coronavirus. This was a quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and a control group design. The statistical population consisted of all the elderly women (65 years old and higher) who were member of the daily rehabilitation services working under supervision of Tabriz Welfare Organization in 2021, among whom 24 eligible women were selected based on inclusion criteria, and randomly assigned into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of group logotherapy, while the control group received no intervention. The tools used in this study included the Templer’s death anxiety, Russell et al.’s feeling of loneliness, and the Steger et al.’s meaning of life questionnaires. The data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance) ANCOVA) in SPSS-24 software. The results revealed that there is a significant difference between control and experimental groups in terms of death anxiety, feeling of loneliness and meaning of life (P<0.05). In other words, group logotherapy decreased death anxiety and feeling of loneliness and increased the meaning of life in the elderly. According to the results, it appears that this treatment can be effectively used in rehabilitation centers and other psychological and counseling centers in order to improve the mental health of the elderly.

Although the phenomenon of aging cannot be stopped, the disorders and disabilities of this period can be prevented or postponed through proper planning and the use of methods and principled cares. Therefore, this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness, balance and combined exercises (balance-mindfulness) on the balance and fear of falling in the elderly. The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included all the elderly living in Mashhad, Iran with balance problem or fear of falling. Participants included 48 elderly women (60 to 79 years old) who were randomly assigned into four groups of 12 people. In order to collect data, the international falling efficiency questionnaire and Berg’s balance test were used. Univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data in SPSS-20 and Excel 2013 software. The findings revealed that compared to control group, all three training methods of mindfulness, balance, and the combination of mindfulness-balance had a significant effect on balance performance and fear of falling in the elderly women, as such, increased the balance and reduced the fear of falling. Besides, the findings indicated that there is a significant difference between the mindfulness, balance and combined methods in terms of their effectiveness on balance performance and fear of falling in the elderly women. In this sense, the combined exercise, mindfulness and balance methods had a greater effect on improving balance and reducing the fear of falling, respectively. Therefore, in order to improve the level of motor (balance) and psychological (fear of falling) indicators affecting the performance of the elderly women, it is recommended to use a combination of balance exercises and mindfulness, considering the characteristics of exercise.

Aging is along with muscle weakness and musculoskeletal pain that requires attention and planning to control these changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aqua therapy on back pain, body composition, and motor function in inactive elderly women.

The present study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design of a suitable type. Thirty inactive elderly women were voluntarily and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed combined water exercises for eight weeks, three sessions a week with a maximum intensity of 45 to 65% of the maximum heart rate. Body composition variables were analyzed using body composition analysis device, back pain analyzed by Key Star Back 9-item questionnaires, and movement control variables such as walking speed evaluated using 10 m walking test and the ability to maintain balance analyzed with stand-up and time test, tested before and after the training protocol. And the data were analyzed using the SPSS program and independent and dependent t-test.

Based on the findings of the present study, significant improvement in body composition, including weight, fat percentage, muscle tissue, and waist to hip ratio, was observed in elderly women (P=0.001), and the results of the present study showed factors affecting motor control had a significant improvement, such as balance (P=0.001), speed (P=0.001) and physical back pain (P=0.001) and mental back pain (P=0.001) after eight weeks practicing in the water.

This study showed that as the elderly live a passive and active life, their physical health improves. To increase the range of motion of the lumbar region, stabilize the trunk, and reduce back pain, trainers and officials can use this non-invasive and low-cost method in the training program and rehabilitation of the elderly individual.

The dramatic increase in life expectancy in the twentieth century has been one of the greatest health achievements in the world, which has led to an increasing trend in the overall age of the population compared to the past. With increasing life expectancy and declining fertility rates, it can be said that in most countries, including Iran, the slope of population growth for people over 60 is higher than other age groups, and this causes the world's population to age.According to the Iranian National Statistics Portal (2016), the life expectancy of Iranian men has increased from 45 to 69 and then 74 years in 1960, 2000 and 2015, respectively, and for women from 44 to 71 and then 76 years. Accordingly, the ratio of the elderly to the total population has been increasing in recent decades, and it is estimated that the percentage of elderly people in Iranian society will be 6.6-6.6% in 2025, 19% in 2030, and 21.7% to 30.8% in 2050.In this regard, due to the higher life expectancy of women than men, older women are more exposed to potential health threats, such as increased incidence of chronic diseases, loneliness and isolation, and lack of social support. The aim of this study was to compare the general health and happiness of elderly women with and without a spouse referring to health centers in Bandar Abbas, one of the deprived areas in southern Iran, in 2018.

This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 390 women over 60 years of age (260 with spouses and 130 widows) referred to 8 selected health centers in Bandar Abbas, Iran, in 2018, using quota cluster sampling method. Data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire, the Goldberg and Hiller General Health Questionnaire, and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The collected data were processed using SPSS software version 21. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics (chi-square, and independent t-test, analysis of covariance) were used to analyze the data and a significant level of P <0.05 was considered.

In this study, out of 260 elderly women with a spouse, 218 (83.8%), and out of 130 elderly women without a spouse, 83 (63.8%) were under 70 years old. Most women without a spouse (67.6%), and with a spouse (65%), have 5 to 9 children, and more than half of them in both groups (58.4% of the group with a spouse and 51.9% of the group without spouse) had 5 to 9 married children. About half of women in the two groups (48.5% in the group with a spouse and 50% in the group without a spouse) had primary education, most (94.2% in the group with a spouse, and 95.4% in the group without a spouse) were housewives. In terms of economic status, most of the two groups (61.5% of each group) were at a moderate level, and often (48.1% of the group with a spouse, and 50.8% of the group without a spouse) were financially dependent. The two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic variables except age and number of years of living with a spouse (P <0.001). The results showed that although older women with a spouse had a higher level of general health and happiness than the other group, the results of analysis of covariance showed that this difference was not statistically significant.

According to the results of this study, the average general health score in both groups was lower than the cut-off points for the whole test (23), which means that in terms of general health, most women in both groups have a good level of health. However, the mean health score in this study is higher than the mean health score of the elderly in Yazdani study in Tehran (Yazdani, 2010), and Nejati study in Qom (Nejati, 2005). This shows that the elderly in Tehran and Qom have higher general health. Perhaps the reason for this can be attributed to the deprivation of Bandar Abbas city and the lower quality of health services provided to the elderly in deprived areas compared to the center.Also, although the average general health score, and each of its areas, is lower in the group of women with a spouse, and it seems that women with husbands have higher general health, but the results of analysis of covariance showed that this difference is statistically Not significant (P = 0.38).Perhaps one of the reasons for the insignificance of this difference can be attributed to the factor of social support provided by children, which according to Okabayashi et al, can have a greater impact on the mental health of older women than other sources of support, including spouses, friends and acquaintances.Also, in relation to the physical dimension of elderly women's health, according to the results of the Bennet study, the decrease in the level of physical health in older women is more a function of burnout and aging, than widowhood and lack of spouse support. This could be a justification for the lack of significance of this relationship in our study.The results of this study also showed that the mean score of happiness is higher in women with a spouse, but this difference is not statistically significant (P = 0.17). According to Hughes and Waite, regarding the role of marriage and its relationship with feelings of health and happiness, although some changes in physical and mental health can be explained by marital status, marriage seems to be only part of this relationship. Also, Ryan, and Ryan and Willits, believe that it is the quality of family relationships that can contribute to the psychological well-being of the elderly, not just the presence of a spouse and the number of children.

 Although some changes in physical and mental health can be explained by marital status, other factors besides just having a spouse may also affect the sense of well-being, health, and happiness of these older women, and identifying them requires further research.

Due to the prevalence of chronic pain in elderly women and its effect on psychological aspects such as anxiety and depression, it seems necessary to find practical strategies. Thus, the main purpose of this study is the effect of mindfulness-aromatherapy training on anxiety and depression in elderly women with chronic pain.

The present quasi-experimental study was performed by pretest-posttest method and follow-up with a control group. The research community of elderly women with chronic pain referred to hospitals, pain clinics, rehabilitation, orthopedics, physiotherapy and the elderly in the western region of Tehran in 2017. Using available sampling method and using entry and exit criteria, 30 people were selected and randomly divided into two equal groups. The experimental group underwent group intervention of mindfulness-aroma massage therapy in 10 sessions of 120 minutes and the control group remained on the waiting list. The groups were evaluated for depression and anxiety in the pre-test and post-test stages. At the end of the intervention, the questionnaires were administered again for both groups and after 45 days, the test was followed up again and the data obtained from pre-test-post-test and follow-up were analyzed by analysis of covariance using SPSS-19 software.

Data analysis showed that intervention based on mindfulness and aroma massage, significantly improved depression and anxiety in the participants (F=4.916; p=0.003), (F=14.070; p=0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05), and these effects remained (F=0.895; p=0.345), (F=3.403; p=0.079) in the follow-up phase (p>0.05)

According to the findings of this study, mindfulness-aroma massage, may improve depression and anxiety in the elderly and represent new horizons in clinical interventions and can be used as an effective intervention method in improving the general health and quality of life of the elderly with chronic pain.