FACTORS AFFECTING THE LEVEL OF LONELINESS AMONG ELDERLY RECEIVING HOME CARE SERVICES

Year 2024, Volume: 18 Issue: 4, 456 - 465

Ece Alagöz , Vildan Yanık

https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1477431

Abstract

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to identify and understand the factors contributing to loneliness among individuals aged 65 and above receiving home care services.
Methods: This research adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design to investigate the factors influencing loneliness in the elderly population. The study's population comprised individuals aged 65 and above receiving home care services from a municipality in Istanbul. The sample, determined through the convenience sampling method, consisted of 285 older participants who volunteered to take part in the study and were actively receiving home care. Data were collected using three main instruments: The Personal Information Form, The Loneliness Scale for the Elderly, and The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
Results: The loneliness level among single elderly individuals was significantly higher than that of their married counterparts, with being single explaining 33% of the variation in loneliness (R² = 33). The engagement in social activities emerged as a crucial factor, as the loneliness levels of socially active elderly individuals were notably lower, contributing to 25% of the variation in loneliness (R² = 25). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale revealed that as the self-esteem of older adults increased, their loneliness levels decreased, explaining 26% of the variation (R² = 26). Marital status, social activity, and self-esteem variables collectively explained 23% of the variation in the level of loneliness.
Conclusion: The study's key findings indicate that the level of self-esteem among elderly individuals receiving home care services was moderate. Additionally, single elderly individuals experienced higher levels of loneliness compared to their married counterparts. Socially active older adults exhibited lower loneliness levels, and increased self-esteem corresponded to decreased loneliness. Notably, variables such as age, gender, educational status, and the presence of chronic diseases showed no significant impact on the level of loneliness among the elderly.

Keywords

public health, social isolation, old age, loneliness

EVDE BAKIM HİZMETİ ALAN YAŞLILARIN BENLİK SAYGISI veYALNIZLIK DÜZEYİ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİ

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, evde bakım hizmeti alan 65 yaş ve üzeri bireylerde yalnızlığa katkıda bulunan faktörlerin ortaya çıkarılmasını amaçlamıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Kesitsel tanımlayıcı bir tasarımı benimseyen bu araştırma, yaşlı nüfusta yalnızlığı etkileyen faktörleri araştırmaktadır. Araştırmanın evrenini İstanbul'daki bir belediyeden evde bakım hizmeti alan 65 yaş ve üzeri bireyler oluşturmuştur. Kolayda örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmış ve örneklemi aktif olarak evde bakım hizmeti alan 285 yaşlı birey oluşturmuştur. Veri toplamada Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Yaşlılar İçin Yalnızlık Ölçeği ve Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: Bekar yaşlı bireyler arasındaki yalnızlık düzeyleri, evli olanlara göre önemli ölçüde daha yüksek bulundu; bekarlık, yalnızlık varyasyonunun %33'ünü açıklıyordu (R 2 = 33). Sosyal açıdan aktif yaşlı bireylerde, belirgin şekilde yalnızlık seviyeleri daha düşüktü, varyasyonun %25'ine katkıda bulundu (R 2 = 25). Yaşlı yetişkinlerin benlik saygısı arttıkça yalnızlık düzeylerinin azaldığı bulundu ve bu varyasyonun %26'sını açıkladığını gösterdi (R 2 = 26). Medeni durum, sosyal aktivite ve benlik saygısı değişkenleri toplu olarak yalnızlık düzeyindeki değişimin %23'ünü açıkladı.
Sonuç: Evde bakım hizmeti alan yaşlı bireyler arasında benlik saygısının orta düzeyde olduğu, bekar yaşlı bireylerin yalnızlık düzeylerinin evlilere göre daha yüksek olduğu, sosyal olarak aktif olan yaşlı bireylerin yalnızlık düzeylerinin daha düşük olduğu belirlendi. Benlik saygısı arttıkça yalnızlık düzeyinin azaldığı tespit edildi. Özellikle yaş, cinsiyet, eğitim durumu ve kronik hastalıklar gibi değişkenlerin yaşlılarda yalnızlık düzeyleri üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi olmadığı görüldü. Bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda, evde bakım hizmeti alan yaşlı bireylerin yalnızlık düzeylerinin azaltılması için sosyal aktivitelere katılımlarının ve benlik saygısının ele alınmasının önemi vurgulanmaktadır.

Keywords

halk sağlığı, sosyal izolasyon, yalnızlık, yaşlılık

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