Search

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main focus of studies was on physical impact of the disease, while psychological impacts were mainly neglected. Identifying the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population can help in planning and preparing for future pandemics. The current study aims to investigate the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey study that was conducted online on 1735 Iranian people from April 21 to June 21, 2021. Perceived feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic were measured by Reynolds's self-report tool. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics including chi-square test and independent t-test in SPSS software, version 22. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 34.62±11.86 years. The most frequent perceived feelings were boredom (n=764, 44.0%), nostalgia (n=704, 40.6%), worry (n=613, 35.3%), and nervousness (n=591, 34.1%). Females, younger people, unemployed people, unmarried people, and those living in the urban areas experienced significantly higher levels of negative feelings. Conclusion: The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Iranian people is high, particularly among female, unmarried, and unemployed people. Therefore, supportive and psychological interventions during the pandemic and psychological rehabilitations after the pandemic are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The rate of population aging in Iran is higher than the regional and global levels and Iran will enter the aging phase by 2040s. Considering the importance of the changes that population aging will create in Iranian society, this study aims to investigate the challenges and drivers of population aging in the next three decades in Iran. Methods & Materials The is a futures study using the scenario analysis method. Data were collected from different sources to understand the possible challenges of the population aging. Then, the obtained information was analyzed based on experts' opinions, structural analysis, cross-impact balance analysis, and scenario development. The data were analyzed using Mic-Mac and Scenario Wizard applications. Results The main drivers of population aging in the future will be governance variables in the field of old age, pension funds, health costs at micro and macro levels, distribution of welfare, fertility and household size, insurance coverage & pension. These variables will affect the geriatric workforce, intergenerational relationships, social participation, and the lifestyle and quality of life of older adults (outcomes). The possible scenarios for the future of population aging in 2050 were "Risky ageing", " Twilight ageing", "Dawn of ageing", and "Prosperous ageing". Conclusion To achieve the desired scenario, i.e., " prosperous ageing" in Iran, we need a smart governance with a forward-looking view in the field of aging, equal welfare distribution, win-win pension funds, active economic and social participation of older adults, and fertility rate above the replacement level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies suggest that childhood can affect some later outcomes. This cross-sectional study of the first phase of the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging (ACSA) on 5,197 individuals examined the effects of childhood socioeconomic and health on aging well. Childhood socioeconomic status (SES) was measured using parents' education and self-expressed family's financial status. Quality of Life (SF-12), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), WHO well-being scale, and self-reported health questionnaire were used. All data, including childhood experiences, was collected at a single time point. Poor childhood health was associated with lower well-being, life satisfaction, and mental quality of life (OR:.53, p =.032, OR: 0.49, p =.019, and β: −3.51, p =.008, respectively). The family's financial status during childhood was associated with the mental and physical quality of life, satisfaction, well-being, and health (all p <.05). Fathers and mothers who had some level of education increased the odds of being healthy by 1.20 and 1.49 times, respectively. Childhood circumstances affect older adults' health and social conditions. Policies to improve childhood health and SES should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long COVID is a major manifestation of long-lasting symptoms experienced by the survivors of the coronavirus infection that may influence patients' physical and mental health. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association of the physical symptoms of COVID-19 (fatigue, breathlessness, and pain) and the level of physical activity with the physical and mental health of survivors in the post-COVID-19 period. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 152 hospitalized and non-hospitalized adults infected with COVID-19 aged between 18 and 65 years at the post-infection period with follow-up times greater than 6 months. Standardized instruments, such as the SF12, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), and visual analog scale (VAS), were used for measuring pre-and post-COVID-19 painful symptoms, fatigue, and breathlessness. The severity of the coronavirus infection was judged based on hospitalization or ICU admission. Data were analyzed with linear regression analysis. Results: The results showed that, at a mean duration of 6 months post-discharge, only fatigue was associated with lower physical (F = 2.84, explained variance = 15.3%) and mental health (F = 1.88, explained variance = 10.6%) Conclusions: Considering the negative impact of fatigue on the physical and mental health of patients during the post-COVID period, it is suggested to monitor and manage fatigue for a longer period post-COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Considering the high prevalence of chronic diseases in older adults, providing care to them requires a special approach that focuses on palliative care. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the role of companionship in palliative care in older adults and identify the research gap related to it. Methods. This scoping review study was guided by the method of Arksey and Malley. Researches on the role of companionship in palliative care in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, and Google Scholar with keywords of companion*, "palliative care" and their English and Persian equivalents were searched. based on the results of 10 studies; the consequences were categorized. Results. Based on the results of 10 studies included in this study, the role of companionship in palliative care can be divided into two categories of positive and negative outcomes. Positive consequences can be classified into physical, mental, spiritual, social, economic, and moral dimensions. Regarding the negative consequences, some roles were explicit, and others were implicit. The latter case indicates a gap in information that requires further study. Conclusion. It is necessary for researchers to pay attention to companionship in palliative care by focusing on its consequences, especially its negative consequences. It is recommended that qualitative and interventional studies should be conducted in Iran. Practical Implications. Researchers can be sensitized to conduct qualitative and interventional studies to accurately investigate the role of companionship in palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify various aspects and dimensions of the prosociality concept in later life as an important concept that gains significance in people as they age. This concept has been expressed through a variety of dimensions in different studies. Method: This is a scoping review of the relevant literature on the concept of prosociality and its dimensions in later life, including quantitative and qualitative studies. The required data were collected from Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases between the years 1987 and 2022. Results: First, 877 articles were identified, and after the screening phase, 57 eligible studies were reviewed. Two main categories, prosocial dispositions and prosocial behaviors, and seven subcategories were extracted. The subcategories of prosocial dispositions include empathy, prosocial norms, innate tendencies, and generative desires. Prosocial behaviors subcategories include informal spontaneous helping, formal planned helping, and pro-environmental behaviors. Conclusion: The various aspects and dimensions of the prosociality concept in later life identified in this study can be used as a basis for assessing and planning the promotion of prosociality among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted tremendous pressure on people, including older adults. Frail older adults are more susceptible to the adverse consequences of the pandemic. Although many studies have investigated the susceptibility and poor medical outcomes of COVID-19 in frail people, a few studies have explored the psychosocial effects of the pandemic on this group of vulnerable people. This study overviews the psychosocial consequences of the pandemic and necessary public interventions for frail older adults. Materials and Methods: An integrative review method was utilized to gather, analyze, and structure the study data. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched to extract the published English papers based on a designed strategy. The keywords and used Boolean operators in their titles or abstracts were (["COVID-19" OR "CORONA" OR "SARS-CoV-2"] AND ["frail" OR "frailty"]). A total of 50 articles (47 quantitative, 2 qualitative, and 1 mixed method) were selected for the final analysis. Results: Anxiety and depression were reported as the most significant psychological consequences in the related studies. The results also indicated the social relations of older frail people and their access to health services noticeably reduced during the pandemic. On the other hand, physical exercise programs, telemedicine, and reading activities were the most preventive measures to mitigate the impacts of public restrictions during the pandemic. Conclusion: The results of this review can assist policymakers in reflecting appropriate psychosocial support for frail seniors during the pandemic. As most studies on the psychosocial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic among frail older adults are quantitative and have been performed in developed countries, it is suggested to conduct further qualitative studies. These studies should explore frail older adults' experiences and perceptions and their challenges during the pandemic, particularly in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged quarantine affect the health behaviors of older adults. We investigated the changes in older adults' lifestyles during the pandemic in a sample of 1020 people aged 60 years old and over in Tehran. The results revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on nutritional behaviors and social support while having a negative impact on physical activity and anxiety in older adults. Due to the greater deterioration of health behaviors among unmarried older adults, low socio-economic status, and COVID-19 inpatients, policymakers must pay attention to interventions to promote healthy lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social communication is one of the important factors for older adults' life satisfaction. However, the impact of intergenerational communication dimensions on it and the role of optimism toward aging in this correlation is unclear. Objectives: This study investigated the mediating role of optimism toward aging in the association between intergenerational communication and older adults' life satisfaction. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 550 older adults in Bojnord, Iran, who were selected by a multistage sampling method. Data were collected with the Optimism Toward Aging (OTA) scale, a single-item measure of life satisfaction, and the intergenerational communication scale with two dimensions, intergenerational accommodative communication (IAC) and intergenerational non-accommodative communication (INAC). Structural equation modeling using maximum likelihood estimation was adopted in Amos 24.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 67.74 ± 7.18, and 240 people (43.6%) were men. The results revealed that IAC had no significant direct association with life satisfaction (LS) (β = 0.02, P > 0.05), but INAC had a significant negative direct association with it (β = -0.170, p < 0.001). Unlike IAC (β = 0.474, P < 0.001), INAC did not show direct associations with OTA (β = 0.002, P > 0.05). However, only IAC could indirectly affect the LS of older adults through the complete mediating effect of OTA (β = 0.145, CI = [0.100, 0.199], P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings suggested the positive effect of optimism toward aging on intergenerational accommodative communication and life satisfaction. Intergenerational non-accommodation exhibited a stronger direct association with life satisfaction in older adults than intergenerational accommodation. Thus, to enhance life satisfaction in older adults, it is necessary to give special attention to improving their communication with young people and promoting their optimism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Income poverty is one of the most common problems of old age. It varies among older adults living in different societies. This study aims to investigate the predictors of income poverty in older adults based on the data from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Methods: The secondary data analysis method was used in the present study. The income poverty rate and its associated variables were extracted from 36 members of OECD countries and entered into the SPSS software, version 22. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson correlation coefficient test and multiple linear regression analysis were employed. Results: The results showed that in the studied countries, the mean of income poverty among older adults was higher in women (11.48±16.2), and the elderly aged 75 years or above (12.57±16.1). The income poverty of older adults was significantly correlated with older adults' share in the gross domestic product (r=-0.376, P=024), targeted pension coverage (r=-0.505, P=0.003), income sources based on public transfers (r=-0.460, P=0.005), income sources from work (r=0.697, P=0.000), mandatory pension contribution rate (r=-0.343, P=0.040), and net pension replacement rate (r=-0.424, P=0.010). The results of regression analysis also revealed that variables of income sources from work and targeted pension coverage explained 66% of the variance in income poverty among older adults. Discussion: It is important to pay attention to the variables of age and gender of older people to overcome economic vulnerability in social policies. It is also necessary to consider the role of the share of public transfers and basic old-age pensions to reduce older adults' poverty. The lessons to be learned from OECD countries in this research are useful for the social rehabilitation of older adults in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PediEAT) is a parent-report tool to assess feeding problems in children aged 6 months to 7 years. This study aimed to translate and adapt the PediEAT to Persian and determine its psychometric properties. Methods: The PediEAT was translated and culturally adapted the following guidelines for health-related instruments. Face and content validity was assessed using an expert panel. This study also aimed to evaluate psychometric properties using a sample of 160 children without feeding problems and 43 children with diagnosed feeding problems. Known-groups validation was used to compare PediEAT scores between children with and without feeding problems. In criterion validity, pediatricians' opinions were used as a criterion. To calculate internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was used. After 2 weeks, temporal stability was assessed with 40 parents who repeated the PediEAT. Results: Face and content validity showed that all tool items had CVI and kappa coefficients higher than 0.8. Known-group validity showed that the total and subscale scores significantly differed between children with and without feeding problems (p < 0.001). Criterion validity showed that criterion measurements correlated with questionnaire measurements. All four subscales and the total scale showed acceptable internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.74). Test-retest reliability was acceptable (ICC = 0.987, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The PediEAT-Persian version is a valid and reliable tool for assessing symptoms of problematic feeding in Persian children aged 6 months to 7 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Participation in peer social groups could be used in health promotion programs for the elderly. The current study investigates the effectiveness of participation in a peer social support network intervention on the self-management of the elderly with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-pos-ttest design with a control group conducted in 2019. Two health centers were selected as research settings from a single district in Qom Province, Iran. From each center, 46 subjects were randomly selected. Subjects in the intervention group participated in a peer social support network for 3 months (12 sessions), and the control group received only usual care. The outcome variable was self-management. The components of this variable include the level of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), diabetes distress (measured with Diabetes Distress Scale), awareness (measured with Davoodi's knowledge of diabetes questionnaire), attitude (measured with diabetes attitude scale [DAS-3]), self-efficacy (measured with diabetes empowerment scale, [DES-28]), weight and blood pressure. Subjects were evaluated at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up. The obtained data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-Square, and Fisher test in SPSS software, version 22. The significance level was set at less than 0.5. Results: The change in mean HbA1C of the intervention and control groups at baseline and 6-month follow-up was -0.7 and 0.1, respectively, which was significant (P=0.0001). Moreover, the difference in changes in the mean values of diabetes distress (P=0.008), selfefficacy (P=0.0001), and attitude (P=0.0001) were significant. No significant changes were found in knowledge, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P>0.05). Conclusion: The formation of social support groups may help control blood sugar in the elderly with type 2 diabetes. Seemingly, social groups can mainly impact through psychological factors such as distress control, attitude improvement, and self-efficacy enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Elder abuse is a major public health concern worldwide. Considering the high prevalence of misbehavior towards the elderly, this study investigated the prevalence of elder abuse and its related factors among the elderly people in Yasouj, Iran in 2021. Methods: Using a convenience sampling method, this cross-sectional study included 299 older adults aged over 60 years referring to the Social Security Outpatient Clinic in Yasouj. To collect data, we used the Domestic Elder Abuse Questionnaire. To analyze the data, chi-square and multiple logistic regression statistical tests were used. Results: Of the participants, 55.2 % reported at least one type of misbehavior. While psychological misbehavior had the highest prevalence (41.8 %), rejection had the lowest prevalence (10.7 %). Multiple regression analysis showed that elder abuse was statistically associated with higher educational status (p = 0.002), lower economic status (p = 0.002), and single people reported a higher rate of elder abuse (p = 0.001). Conclusion: According to our results, more than half of the participants reported at least one type of elder abuse, and psychological abuse was the most common type of abuse experienced by the elderly. Since elder abuse can have serious effects on the health and well-being of the elderly, it is critical to identify the related risk factors. Furthermore, it is essential to implement screening programs to increase the awareness of the elderly and caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]