Factors Related to Loneliness Among the Elderly Living at Home in Turkey

Year 2017, , 71 - 78, 20.06.2017

Meryem Öztürk Haney Zuhal Bahar , Ayşe Beşer Dilay Açıl , Tuğba Yardımcı , Saadet Çömez

https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.317717

Cited By: 7

Abstract

Aim/background:
Loneliness occurs in all stages of life, and a major problem for most of the
elderly. To determine the prevalence of loneliness and evaluate the effects of
socio-demographic, health characteristics, life satisfaction, activities of
daily living and instrumental activities of daily living among elderly people. Methods:
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 160 participants in
three regions of İzmir. Measures were included a demographic questionnaire, the
UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Katz Index of
Activities of Daily Living and the Lawton and Brody’s Instrumental Activities
of Daily Living Index. Data were analysed via the independent t-test,
Kruskal-Wallis test, ANOVA test, Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear
regression with stepwise analysis. Results: The loneliness rate was
46.9% among participants. A great difference existed between loneliness level
and marital status, education level, place of residence, self-reported health,
self-reported sleep quality, exercise and instrumental activities of daily
living. Life satisfaction, activities of daily living and instrumental
activities of daily living were negatively associated with loneliness.  Conclusion: Elderly care services
should be designed with a multidisciplinary approach, and nurses should
especially assess loneliness in elderly with low levels of self-care capacity
and reduced social contacts to develop appropriate nursing interventions.

Amaç/Giriş:
Yalnızlık yaşamın her döneminde gelişir ve birçok yaşlı için büyük bir
sorundur. Bu çalışmanın amacı yaşlı bireylerde yalnızlık sıklığını belirlemek
ve sosyo-demografik özellikler, sağlık durumu, yaşam doyumu ve günlük
aktivitelerinin yalnızlığa etkisini değerlendirmektir. Yöntem:
Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipteki bu çalışma İzmir ilinde iki kırsal ve bir
kentsel bölgede 160 katılımcı ile yürütülmüştür.  Veriler sosyo-demografik veri formu, UCLA
Yalnızlık Ölçeği, Yaşam Doyum Ölçeği ve Katz Günlük Yaşam Aktiviteleri Ölçeği
ve Lawton ve Brody’nin Enstürimental Günlük Yaşam Aktiviteleri Ölçeği ile
toplanmıştır. Veriler t testi, Kruskal-Wallis analizi, Anova testi, pearson
korelasyon ve çoklu regresyon analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir.  Bulgular: Katılımcılarda yalnızlık
görülme oranı %46.9 idi. Katılımcıların evlilik durumu, eğitim durumu, yaşadığı
bölge, sağlık durumu, uyku kalitesi, egzersiz yapma durumu ve enstrümental
günlük yaşam aktiviteleri durumuna göre yalnızlık puanları arasında fark
bulunmuştur. Yaşam doyumu, günlük yaşam aktiviteleri ve enstrümental günlük
yaşam aktiviteleri ile yalnızlık arasında ters yönde ilişki saptanmıştır.  Sonuç: Yaşlı bakım hizmetleri
multidisipliner bir yaklaşım ile sunulmalıdır. Hemşireler uygun hemşirelik
girişimleri geliştirmek için özellikle öz bakım kapasiteleri düşük, sosyal
etkileşimi azalmış yaşlı bireylerin yalnızlığını değerlendirmelidir.

Keywords

Activity of daily living, elderly people, life satisfaction, loneliness

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