Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery School, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Department of Nursing, Nursing School, Islamic Azad University, Qaen, Iran
3 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
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Due to increasing number of the world population, elderly individual’s quality of
life (QOL) is a matter of concern and marital status as one of the objective measures of QOL is of
paramount importance. This study was done to compare the QOL between single and remarried
elderly.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case–control study was conducted on 200 elderly people in
Qaen (Southern Khorasan province), Iran. The research sample consisted of two groups of single
and remarried elderly, 100 in each group. A demographic and LEIPAD (an acronym deriving from
the name of Leiden and Padua universities) QOL questionnaires were completed by the participants
via interview.
RESULTS: There was a significant difference between single and remarried elderly groups
in the QOL (P < 0.001). Linear regression showed that marital status (P < 0.000), economic
situation (P < 001), primary education (P < 0.0002), and diploma (P < 0.030) opposed to the illiterate
were significantly related to the QOL. In other words, being married and higher economic situation and
education 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 in
older adults. Thus, being married can be a protective factor against physical, psychological, and social
problems in old age. Realizing this issue in consultation process of elderly peoples is recommended.
Keywords
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