Health Status of Kazaks Minority Aging Group in Iran: a cross-sectional study on their sense of loneliness
Description
Objectives: Loneliness is a mental and debilitating condition that results in metabolic disorders, hypertension, and sadness. In fact, loneliness for the older people is the inability to establish and maintain satisfying relationships with others and is a widespread phenomenon. The study aimed to investigate loneliness in Iranian aging Kazaks and its relationship with their health status. Design: The present study is a descriptive-analytical one that was conducted on 234 Iranian ageing Kazaks in 2020. Data collection tools included demographic and health information questionnaires and (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale, 21-items. The convenience sampling method was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. This study was registered at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and all participants provided the written and verbal consent. Results: the mean score of loneliness was 51.77 (SD = 6.11) and its cut-off point was 44.5. Health index had a significant and inverse relationship with loneliness (P = 0.001, OR = 2.347). Also, living alone, hypertension and gender (OR = 5.034, 4.107 and 4.099, respectively) were the predictors of loneliness. Conclusion: General health, hypertension, and living alone have a significant relationship with loneliness. It is suggested to provide conditions to create communities and sanctuaries appropriate to the culture and customs of the Kazaks ethnic minority in order to keep them active in the community. Keywords: Health Status, Minority Group, Cross-Sectional Studies, Loneliness, Aged.
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he present study isa descriptive-analytical one that was conducted on 234 Iranian aging Kazaks in 2020. Data collection tools included demographic and health information questionnaires and (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale, 21-items. The convenience sampling method was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. This study was registered at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and all participants provided the written and verbal consent.