Assessing the Quality of Physical and Psychological Health of Retired Elderly People in Saravan City

Azizolah  Mojahed; Behzad   Rigi Kooteh; Iman  Mahmoodi

doi:10.18502/jzms.v4i3.7822

Azizolah Mojahed Assistant Professor, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Behzad Rigi Kooteh Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Children and Adolescents Health Research Center, Resistant Tuberculosis Institute, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Iman Mahmoodi General Practitioner, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jzms.v4i3.7822

Keywords: Retirees, Elderly, Mental health

Abstract

Background: Aging is a critical period of human life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of physical and mental health of retired elderly in Saravan (Sistan and Baluchestan province).

Methods: The present descriptive-analytical-cross-sectional study was performed on 150 elderly people in Saravan. The sampling method was cluster based on urban population distribution. Using the Physical Health and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), different dimensions of their health were assessed. Data were analyzed using at descriptive and inferential levels.

Results: 75% of the population were men and 25% were women. The mean of the overall physical health score (212.09 ± 70.89) which indicated moderate health. The overall general health score was (43.31 ± 19.73) which is in the moderate disorder group in the qualitative evaluation. There was also a significant relationship between physical and mental health of the evaluated retirees (p value < 0.001).

Conclusion: The physical health of the retirees was moderately expressed and evaluated. Also, the general health studied in this group had moderate problems. Since there is a close relationship between mental health and physical health, and since the retired class is very vulnerable, these problems should be carefully evaluated.