Salmand: Iranian Journal of Ageing
Year:2018 | Volume:12 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Objectives In general, the older adults have limited physical activity. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effect of physical activity on cognitive flexibility and perfectionism in older adults.Methods & Materials: The study followed the causal-comparative research design. A total of 126 elderly people from the neighborhood, elderly community, parks, gardens and recreational areas in the first and third districts of Tehran were selected for this research work using purposive sampling method. The participants completed demographic, cognitive status, CHAMPS physical activity, Hill’s perfectionism, and cognitive flexibility questionnaires.Results: A significant difference was observed in the relationship between perfectionism and cognitive flexibility in three groups of older adults with low, high and average physical activity levels (P<0.05). The mean scores of perceived control, perceived several solutions and justifications perception, cognitive flexibility and perfectionism were higher in aged people with high levels of physical activity compared to those having other levels of physical activity.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that physical activity can help improve cognitive flexibility and perfectionism in older adults. Also, an active lifestyle is recommended for older adults to enhance their cognitive factors.

Objectives: This study aimed at developing and determining psychometric properties of Active Aging Measurement Instrument (AAIM) as per the Iranian aging society.Methods & Materials: This study was performed in two phases by applying the steps identified by Ingersoll-Dayton in 2015-2016. In the first phase, according to prior studies, a preliminary AAMI was developed through three steps. In the second phase through two steps, the psychometric properties of the AAMI were examined. A total of 350 older adults belonging to health-related educational centers in Tehran municipality were included in the psychometrics study using the three-phase cluster sampling method. Statistical tests such as item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's α coefficient, and Pearson correlation coefficient were performed by using SPSS 16.Results: The finding of the first phase was a preliminary 6-item measurement instrument with 5 point responses (none to very much). In the second phase, the result of examining the face and content validity was elimination of 6 items, which led to a 55-item AAMI. The result of psychometric tests after item analysis and factor analysis was the final 40-item AAMI consisting of six factors: 1. social-institutional participation; 2. active mind maintenance; 3. social contacts; 4. agent attitude; 5. productive engagement; and 6. physical-functional activity which explained 56% of the total variance. Reliability of AAMI based on examining Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.88, and also its test-retest reliability was 0.95 (P<0.01).Conclusion: The 40-item AAMI consisting of six factors in the present study not only was shown to be reliable, valid and appropriate for Iranian older adults but was also confirmed to have both subjective and objective dimensions.

Objectives: Considering the rapid growth of elderly population in the world, especially in Iran, studying the quality of life in elderly people and the identification of factors affecting them is of particular importance. This research aimed to identify factors which could improve or deteriorate quality of life in elderly women and men.Methods & Materials: The present research is a qualitative and phenomenological study. The study participants were 23 elderly who were selected by the purposive sampling method, having ages between 61 and 101 years. The elderly subjects consisted of 60.9% of women and 39.1% of men. Data were collected by in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded and analyzed based on Streubert and Carpenter method.Results: Research findings include 6 main themes and 24 subthemes. The main themes are as follows: "internal facilitate contexts", "external driving factors", "interpersonal challenges and problems", "obstacles and deficiencies in the field of external", "declined desires and aspirations", and "necessities and suggestions for improvement".Conclusion: Our study indicates that to improve the life, the elderly should pay attention to factors such as the role of religious beliefs, proper nutrition, meeting relatives, reminiscence, and establishing proper social relationships. In addition, removing barriers such as breaking the taboo of elderly marriage, financial support, and providing counseling services could improve their quality of life.

Objectives: In modern societies, the elderly belong to the growing social groups that are becoming increasingly important due to the age pyramid. This research has been done to consider the simple and multiple relationships between the styles of attachment to God and resilience with dead anxiety in the elderly people in Zanjan City, Iran.Methods & Materials: This study was a descriptive and correlational study. It included 242 elderly individuals aged 55 to 65 years and living in Zanjan during 2016-2017 using available sampling method. The Templer Death Anxiety Scale, Conner and Davidson Resilience Scale, and Beck and McDonald’s Attachment to God questionnaires were distributed to all the selected participants. Finally, 231 data were considered for this study as 11 questionnaires were excluded due to lack of full cooperation. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used.Results: The correlation of death anxiety with attention to God was -0.56, trust against mistrust was -0.65, trust in God was -0.53, and relationship with God was -0.68. The correlation between total attachment to God and death anxiety was -0.68 and between resiliency and death anxiety was -0.54. All the correlations were significant at the level of 0.01. Also, multiple regression analysis showed that predictor variables explained 64% of variance in death anxiety.Conclusion: Results indicated that the attachment to God and resiliency have a significant and negative correlation with death anxiety. Thus, it is recommended that the relevant authorities should consider training and skills associated with resilience and belief in God in old age and elderly care centers.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship personality traits (neuroticism and extraversion) and self-efficacy with aging depression in retiree male teachers in Harsin City, Iran.Methods & Materials: The present study followed a cross-sectional descriptive correlation method. In this research, a total of 173 retiree male teachers in Harsin were selected by random sampling method. Research tools included geriatric depression scale, NEO five-factor inventory and generalized self-efficacy scale.Results: The obtained information was separately analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and regression. This research showed significant negative associations between aging depression with extraversion (r=-0.65, P<0.001), and self-efficacy (r=-0.66, P<0.001). There were also significant positive correlation between neuroticism (r=0.54, P<0.001) and aging depression.Conclusion: Neuroticism can affect aging depression of retiree male teachers. And more extraversion and self-efficacy can result in decrease in depression of retiree male teachers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-regulation and balance confidence among the active and in-active elderly in the city of Mahabad.Methods & Materials: The cross-correlational research included elderly people aged 60 to 85 years and living in Mahabad city. A total of 93 active elderly and 93 in-active elderly were randomly selected as sample. The Balance Confidence questionnaire and Self-Regulation questionnaire were used to gather data. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Pearson correlation, multiple regressions, and independent t test were used to analyze the collected data. This study was performed using SPSS software.Results: The results showed that balance confidence had a positive and significant relationship with all the dimensions of self-regulation in the elderly (P£0.05). Other than the disclosure feelings component (P=0.250), other dimensions of self-regulation can effect balance confidence. It was also found that there is a significant difference between the active (balance confidence: 3.2446±0.63735; self-regulation: 3.8017±0.75943) and in-active (balance confidence: 2.3468±0.69454; self-regulation: 2.8208±0.79782) elderly (P£0.05).Conclusion: This study confirms that lack of self-regulation in the elderly can lead to decreased physical activity and restrictions. It is suggested that self-regulation should be emphasized in the elderly so that they can overcome their environmental issues and enhance their balance confidence.

Objectives: The aim of the current research was to investigate the effectiveness of group logotherapy in improving life expectancy and mental and social wellbeing of female elderly residents of nursing homes in Dubai.Methods & Materials: This study was a quasi-experimental research conducted in the form of a pretest-posttest with control group design. Forty elderly women aged over 65 years and residing in nursing homes in Dubai were selected for the study by stratified random sampling. The participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the group logotherapy for 8 sessions, and each session lasted for 1 and a half hours. The control group was put on a waiting list. The participants completed the Snyder’s Hope Scale, Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-being, and the Social Well-Being Scale in the pre-test and post-test. The data were analyzed using multi-variable covariance analysis.Results: The mean and standard deviation of participants’ age in the experimental and control groups were 65.10±12.10 years and 67.12±11.80 years, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of total scores of psychological well-being (445.31±35.90), life expectancy (37.01±2.13) and social well-being (27.99±3.06) were assessed. The results showed that group logo therapy could increase mental wellbeing, the components of life expectancy such as pathways and agentic thinking as well as components of social wellbeing including social cohesion, social participation, social flourishing, social cohesion and social acceptance (P<0.001) in female elderly residents of nursing homes in Dubai.Conclusion: It was concluded that mental health professionals can use group logo therapy to improve life expectancy and mental and social wellbeing of female elderly residents of nursing homes. Also, it is suggested that future research should investigate the effectiveness of group logo therapy in improving other positive psychological constructs in female and male elderly residents of nursing homes.

Objectives: Caregiving of stroke survivors leads to several physiopsychlogical problems for family caregiver due to excessive demand by the stroke survivors. The aim of this study was to determine general health of the caregivers of stroke survivors and their relationship with demographic factors.Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study in which 60 caregivers of stroke survivors were selected by convenience sampling from Sina and Firouzgar Hospitals in Tehran province in Iran, in 2015. The data was collected by two questionnaires including demographic questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The collected data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics including mean and standard deviation using SPSS software (version 15).Results: The mean GHQ score was 61.41±14.9; in female caregiver, it was 63.07±16.09, and in male caregiver, the score was 58.33±12.28. Significant correlation found between overall GHQ score and either of the factors such as occupational status, age category, or type of caring (P=0.01). Unemployment in caregiver, aging, and 24-hour caring of stroke survivors were related to a reduction in GHQ score. However, there was no significant association between GHQ of stroke caregivers and either of the factors such as sex (P=0.35), time of caring (0.24), marital status (P=0.71), or educational status.Conclusion: This study showed that family caregivers of stroke survivors experience deterioration of general health at different dimensions. Therefore, it is recommended that planning for general health and social support for caregivers should be done through policy making in health and treatment.

Objectives: Aging and its associated problems are one of the challenges in the country. This necessitates the need for proper planning during this period. In this regard, the present study was conducted with the aim of fitting the indicators for choosing optimal sports location for the elderly.Methods & Materials: The present study is a descriptive-analytic research that determined the weights of research criteria using a structured interview with eight experts in Analytical Hierarchy Process. In addition, the pools of Karaj (27 cases) were selected as the study population and the elderly people referred to these pools were selected as the research community. A total of 127 elderly were examined using stratified sampling. After weighing the sub-criteria of each research criterion, AutoCAD, Excel, ArcGIS, and Google Earth software were used to create a spatial database.Results” Of the total 127 elder participants, 66% were male, 48% were aged 60-65 years, and 54% spent more than 6 hours a week on sports. According to experts’ opinions, three indicators of accessibility, proximity to other land uses, and safety ranked higher in the field of influencing the selection of sports places. Among the sub-criteria, subway lines and highways for access index; proximity to parks and green spaces and proximity to cultural centers for proximity index; and proper position to health centers and fire centers for safety index had relative importance compared to other sub-criteria.Conclusion: Proximity to other land uses and safety was recognized as important criteria influencing the selection of sports places. By using the results of this research and by correctly locating the sports venues, it is possible to prevent the mistakes in choosing the location of sports facilities.

Objectives: As the population of elderly people in Iran is rising, determining the risk factors of their death is necessary. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors that reduce the survival time of elderly people.Methods & Materials: In a longitudinal retrospective study, data of 510 elderly people aged over 60 years, who were admitted to Kashan’s Golabchi nursing home from 2000 to 2012 were collected and analyzed. To identify some risk factors of time to death in elderly, semi-parametric mixture competing risk model in survival analysis was fitted to the data. To estimate the model parameters, Expand-Maximize-Compress (EMC) algorithm was used and parameters and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated using R software (version 3.3.1).Results: In separate one-variable fitted models, the variables like high blood lipids (HR=1.04; CI=1.00, 1.31), history of myocardial infarction (HR=0.90; CI=1.04, 1.10), stroke history (HR=0.95; CI=1.00, 1.14), and deaths of elderly people with cardiovascular diseases were significant. In the fitted multivariate model, renal problems had a significant effect (HR=1.58; CI=1.77, 2.83) on time to death of elderly.Conclusion: In single-variable fitting, age, history of myocardial infarction, history of stroke, and kidney problems were identified to have significant effects on the time to death of the elderly. Based on one-variable semi-parametric competing risk mixture fitted models, more significant risk factors for the time to death of elderly was identified when compared with a fitted multivariate mode to the data. This implies that the role of some independent variables can be explained by other independent variables.