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29-Aug-2024
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Arch Hellen Med, 41(5), September-October 2024, 635-641 ORIGINAL PAPER Investigation of the elderly's mental health living in a rural border area of Greece T. Paralikas,1 E. Kotrotsiou,1 A. Giagkoula,2 D. Theofanidis,3 G. Tsioumanis,1 S. Kotrotsiou4 |
OBJECTIVE To assess the mental health of the elderly living in a rural area of Greece.
METHOD The study included 161 people, residents of Florina and the surrounding areas, aged over 65 years old. Two standardized psychometric scales were used in the study: (a) General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and (b) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIY). Convenience sampling was considered the most appropriate method for collecting the data of the present study. The software of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0 was used for the statistical processing of the data.
RESULTS Average age of the participants was 72.8 years. The overall mean scores of the GHQ-28, STAI-Y1, and STAI-Y2 scales were 1.97, 2.59, and 2.41, respectively, indicating that the study participants did not suffer from non-psychotic psychiatric disorders and exhibited moderate levels of situational and structural stress. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations were observed between the degree of mental health and biological sex, age, place of residence, family status and economic status. No correlations were found with educational level.
CONCLUSIONS The progressive aging of the population, which has taken on global dimensions, highlights the need to take care of providing social support and seeking to achieve healthy aging and quality of life for this special population group.
Key words: Aging, Depression, Elderly, Stress.
