Comparison of mental health and life satisfaction of five elderly ethnic groups

Differences in life satisfaction among older community-dwelling Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites

OBJECTIVES

Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic/racial group of the older adult population in the United States, yet little is known about positive mental health in this group. We examined differences in life satisfaction between demographically matched groups of older Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites, and sought to identify specific factors associated with these differences

METHODS

Participants included 126 community-dwelling English-speaking Hispanics aged 50 and older, and 126 age-, gender-, and education-matched non-Hispanic Whites. Participants completed standardized measures of life satisfaction and postulated correlates, including physical, cognitive, emotional and social functioning, as well as positive psychological traits and religiosity/spirituality.

RESULTS

Hispanics reported greater life satisfaction than non-Hispanic Whites (p < 0.001). Ethnic groups were comparable on most postulated correlates of life satisfaction, except that Hispanics had lower levels of cognitive performance, and higher levels of daily spiritual experiences, private religious practices and compassion (ps < 0.001). Among these factors, spiritual experiences, religious practices, and compassion were significantly associated with life satisfaction in the overall sample. Multivariable analyses testing the influence of these three factors on the association between ethnicity and life satisfaction showed that higher spirituality among Hispanics accounted for ethnic differences in life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

English-speaking Hispanics aged 50 and older appeared to be more satisfied with their lives than their non-Hispanic White counterparts, and these differences were primarily driven by higher spirituality among Hispanics. Future studies should examine positive mental health among various Hispanic subgroups, including Spanish speakers, as an important step toward development of culturally sensitive prevention and intervention programs aimed at promoting positive mental health.

Quality of life in American Indian women with arthritis or diabetes

OBJECTIVE

We investigated quality of life (QOL) in American Indian women with different chronic diseases.

METHOD

Sixty American Indian women with diabetes mellitus (DM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or both DM and RA (DM + RA), and healthy control women received evaluations of joint motion, hand strength dexterity, pain, activity and participation limitations and QOL.

RESULTS

The DM + RA and RA groups had significantly more pain, less joint motion, decreased hand strength, and more activity limitations. Participation was similar for all groups except the DM + RA group. Past and present QOL were similar; however, the DM + RA group reported significantly decreased future QOL.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that the presence of more than one chronic disease affects activity and participation. Factors that related to QOL were different for each disease group, with the exception of pain. Identification of factors related to QOL can help occupational therapists identify areas for intervention.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Poststroke Depression: A Malaysian Study

This study investigated the prevalence of depression 3-6 months poststroke and examined specific factors associated with depression in a stroke population of the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was hypothesised that poststroke depression (PSD) is prevalent in the poststroke population of University Hospital Malaysia and that PSD is significantly correlated with demographics, educational background, medical history, rehabilitation attendance, traditional medicine use, prestroke and poststroke activities, religiousness, activities of daily living, and social support. The study group comprised 80 patients admitted to the hospital with stroke of any etiology. Mean patient age was 56.8 years (standard deviation +/- 12.5 years). The results were derived by comparing the 80 stroke patients with 80 controls matched for age, sex, race, and medication use. Results were also derived from comparisons between depressed and nondepressed members of the stroke population (n = 80). The diagnosis of depression was based on the Zung Self-Rating Scale and confirmed by a psychiatrist, based on DSM-IV criteria. Interviews were conducted based on a 26-item questionnaire, modified Barthel Index, and Social Resources Scale were used to assess which factors correlated with depression. Depression was found to be common among Malaysians 3-6 months after stroke. A total of 66% of the patients were depressed, with depression considered mild in 51% and moderate to severe in 15%. It was demonstrated that the occurrence of depression was significantly correlated with age, ethnicity, noncontinuance of prestroke lifestyles, and poor performance in the activities of daily living rating.

Residential preferences and eldercare views of Hispanic elders

A cross-sectional, qualitative study was undertaken with a group (n = 10) of elderly Mexican-American men and women in an inner city congregate meal site of a large Midwestern city. The purpose of the study was to explicate: the older adults' residential preferences should they become unable to live in their own homes, and their beliefs about eldercare. Themes arising from the semi-structured interviews include: nursing homes as places of last resort, the desire not to be a burden to children, intergenerational differences in lifestyle, and extended family involvement in eldercare. Implications of the findings for helping professionals are discussed as are areas needing further investigation.

Relocation among ethnic elders. A review--part 2

Relocation to more supportive housing is a potentially stressful life event for older adults. Under the best of circumstances, the older adult will be relatively healthy and able and willing to participate in relocation decisions. However, this is not always possible. Nurses have a critical role to play in helping families identify the most appropriate housing alternative, helping plan the relocation, and helping older adults adjust to their new homes. Relocation is particularly stressful for ethnic elders who may not understand the housing options available, or may fear prejudicial treatment and exclusion in the various settings. Nurses need to take time for careful assessment of the older adults' preferences, and to provide information needed to help them make relocation decisions within the context of their existing support networks.

Aging, ethnicity, social support. A review--part 1

The increasing diversity of the population of older adults is reflective of the worldwide demographic trends. These trends present nurses with special challenges in assessing and meeting the needs of ethnic elderly individuals. Nurses must be willing and capable of assessing the social support networks and beliefs of older adults from any ethnic group to plan and implement culturally sensitive care. The success of this care will be closely related to the extent to which nurses recognize and include existing support networks and individual preferences.

The evolving concept of health in nursing research: 1988-1998

This article concerns the evolution of the concept of health, as reported in selected nursing journals, over the last 10 years. It builds on an analysis reported by Reynolds [Reynolds CL. The measurement of health in nursing research. Adv Nurs Sci 1988;10(4):23-31.] who initially investigated the concept of health and the means by which it was measured during the period 1977-1987. Using the same journals as Reynolds, the methodology of systematic review is used to analyse the way in which health is defined, the frequency with which it is investigated and the means by which it is measured, and these data are compared with Reynolds findings. The results indicate that; three times as many studies have been conducted in the last 10 years, a more holistic concept of health has emerged, and the instruments used are becoming more sophisticated. These findings are discussed and the implications for patient education and health care professionals considered.

Nursing research: quality of life and perceived health in the elderly

1. Studies have shown that self-perceived health is significantly related to quality of life for older persons. 2. Terminology regarding quality of life and perceived health was found to be inconsistent in the gerontological nursing research reviewed. 3. Outcomes of the research related to quality of life and perceived health fell into three basic categories: predictors found, relationships found, and no relationships found. 4. More experimental research, more replication of research, more research on older males, more use of nursing theory as a framework for research, and more multidisciplinary gerontological research may contribute useful knowledge to the nursing discipline.

Understanding older adult satisfaction with primary health care services at a nursing center

The measurement of satisfaction levels is a positive evaluation of a distinct health care outcome. The purposes of this descriptive-correlational study were to describe the following: (a) the levels of satisfaction with primary health care services received at a nursing center (NC), and (b) the relationships between satisfaction levels and the demographic characteristics of the older adult NC clients. Older adult clients were very satisfied with the primary health care. Subscale analysis showed that the clients were most satisfied with the technical aspects of professional nursing.