JOURNAL OF AGING PSYCHOLOGY
Year:2017 | Volume:2 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:7

In the past century, the rapid increase in the population of the elderly and the issues of disability, reduced autonomy and increased dependency in many of them has increased the need to pay more attention to the issue of life satisfaction in this stratum. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between resilience and happiness with life satisfaction among the elderly. The research method is descriptive and correlational. The population consists of the elderly living in the nursing homes in Kermanshah where 120 people (54 men, 66 women) were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data have been collected using Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and Life Satisfaction Scale (Wood, Wylie, & Sheafor). For data analysis, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Regression analysis have been used. The findings show that the variables of resiliency and happiness can predict the life satisfaction in the elderly. As a result, it can be concluded that considering the role of resilience and happiness on life satisfaction in the elderly, and the importance of this aspect of health, it is necessary to pay more attention to this issue among the elderly.

Elderly is a period of human growth that is accompanied by various ups and downs, while the different responses of elderly men and women in their old ages to different situations can lead to maintaining or falling of their mental health. The present study is conducted to compare distress tolerance, coping styles, spiritual intelligence and happiness among elderly men and women in the city of Ahwaz. The research sample consists of 380 people (190 women and 190 men) selected by convenience sampling method. Measurement tools are Simmons and Gaher's The Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), short version of The Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISSTM) by Calsbeek, Henegouwen, and Dekker, Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale (ISIS) by Amram and Dryer, and The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) by Argyle and Hills. The method of this descriptive study is of causal-comparative, and the analysis of the data carried out with the help of Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), shows that there is a significant difference between male and female elderly in terms of distress absorption and distress assessment, problem-oriented, excitement-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping styles, as well as spiritual intelligence and happiness components (P<0.001). It was also revealed that distress attraction, excitement-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping styles as well as spiritual intelligence components are more common among elderly women, while distress assessment, problem-oriented coping style and happiness components are more common in the elderly men. As a result, it is clear that elderly women are more vulnerable in comparison to elderly men, based on the high level of using excitement-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping styles and distress absorption, therefore more effort is required to improve their mental health.

Obesity is a heterogeneous chronic disorder that has many causes, although the basic cause is the imbalance between intake energy and energy consumption. The effects of obesity appear on a wide range of issues including interpersonal problems, mental disorders, suicide, and academic performance. The purpose of this study is to compare set-shifting and sustained attention in obese and normal weight elderly women. The method of this study, based on comparison of executive functioning in two groups, is causal-comparative and case-control type. Research sample consists of 100 obese and normal weight elderly women who were selected through targeted sampling method. The tools used in this study included Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) of sustained attention. After the completion of the test sessions, the results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference between obese and normal weight women in terms of set-shifting and sustained attention. This means that obese elderly are more likely to suffer from executive functional impairment and weaker active memory. Implementing obesity prevention programs and promoting healthy lifestyles that prevent obesity can be a protective factor against such disorders, especially among the elderly.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of yoga on elderly men and women's level of adjustment. The present study is a semi-experimental with applied nature, along with random allocation of participants in experimental and control groups using Pretest-Posttest Design. The population of this study is all the elderly men and women living in Alborz province nursing homes, of which 30 elderly men and women were selected by convenience and targeted sampling methods, from Kahrizak Nursing Home in Alborz province, and randomly divided into two experiment (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The criterion for entering this research was physical and mental health, as well as obtaining the average score and lower in the adjustment factor. The tools used in this study include personal data sheet, participation consent form, and Bell Adjustment Inventory. The experimental group was subjected to 3 sessions for 45 minutes each week for 6 weeks. Data were analyzed by Shapiro-Wilk test and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). The results shows that yoga exercises have a significant effect on the adjustment level of elderly women and men, that is, yoga exercises lead to a significant increase in the adjustment variable (P=0.001). Yoga exercises had a significant effect on social adjustment and emotional adjustment, that is, yoga exercises led to a significant increase in social adjustment (P=0.045) and emotional adjustment of elderly women and men (P=0.001). Therefore, yoga exercises can be used to increase adjustment ability, social adjustment and emotional adjustment of the elderly men and women by specialists in nursing homes.

Hypertension is a psychotic disorder that, in addition to biological factors, psychological factors and stress also contribute to its development and exacerbation. To this end, the purpose of this study is to investigate the role of mediation of perceived stress in the relationship between personality traits and hypertension in the elderly. This descriptive study is correlational. The research population consisted of elderly patients with hypertension in Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital in Tehran. A sample of 298 people (177 women and 121 men) was selected using convenience sampling method. The tools used are The Five Factor Personality Profile (NEO) by Costa and McCrae, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) by Cohen, Kamarck and Mermelstein. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling Method. The direct effect of neuroticism and perceived stress on hypertension was confirmed. Also, perceived stress played a mediocre role in the relationship between neuroticism and hypertension. The findings of this study indicate mediation of perceived stress in the relationship between neuroticism and hypertension. Therefore, stress management and effective approach in dealing with the stressors, can help prevent and control hypertension.

Spirituality plays a major role in providing and improving the mental health and quality of life of the elderly. The present study is carried out with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of spiritual training based on Islamic teachings on quality of life and adjustment ability in the elderly. This research is semi-experimental with a Pretest-Posttest Design with control group. The population of the study includes elderly men living in nursing homes in the city of Ahwaz in 2016, out of which 30 individuals, who scored equal to or above the cutoff point in quality of life and adjustment questionnaires, were selected and randomly divided into two experimental (15 subjects) and control (15 People) groups. The Islamic teachings training program was then conducted for 10 sessions of 30 minutes for the experimental group. During this period, the control group received no intervention. After the end of the program, both groups answered the questionnaires again. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis method of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The results shows that spiritual training based on Islamic teachings increases the quality of life and adjustment ability in the experimental group. As a result, spirituality therapy can be used as an effective intervention method in improving the quality of life of the elderly and their adjustment ability.

When an individual's stress and anxiety exceeds the normal level, the individual loses his or her adaptive power and this causes problems. Non-pharmacological methods such as relaxation and music therapy can be effective in reducing anxiety in patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of relaxation and music therapy on the control of blood pressure and pulse in elderly people with hypertension, in the city of Sanandaj. The research method is semi-experimental with Pretest-Posttest Design with control group. Using a multistage cluster sampling method, 30 elderly people suffering from hypertension referred to hospitals in Sanandaj city in 2016 were selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The tools used in this study are blood pressure control device, pulse measurement from the wrist, a music therapy training package, and 10 relaxation methods. The results of covariance analysis showed a significant statistical difference between the posttest of the two groups in the level of blood pressure (p<0.003) and pulse (p<0.001). As the results show, relaxation and music therapy are effective in reducing the blood pressure and pulse in the elderly. Relaxation and music therapy can reduce blood pressure and pulse in the elderly with hypertension, by inducing muscle relaxation, reducing vascular resistance, reducing sympathetic activity, and managing respiration in patients.