Research On The Health Status And Its Influential Factors Of Empty Nest Elderly In Suzhou

ObjectiveIn order to improve the life quality of the “empty nest” elderly, we take targetedcommunity interventions and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of healthpolicy.Methods4404elders aged60years old above were selected from eight communities inSuzhou using random cluster sampling method. This research carried on thequestionnaire survey which mainly included general demographic characteristics, thesituation of chronic diseases, activities of daily living and depressive symptoms. Alldata using statistical software SPSS17.0establish database for statistical analysis. Thestatistical analysis methods included descriptive statistics analysis, chi square test, twosample t-test, ANOVA analysis, Logistic regression analysis and multiple linearregression analysis.Results1. The prevalence of chronic diseases for the “empty nest” elderly and the“non-empty nest” elderly was respectively76.5%and77.6%, but the differencebetween them was not statistically significant. The prevalence(81.4%) of the “emptynest” elderly living alone was higher than “non-empty nest” elderly, theprevalence(75.6%) of the elderly who live with their spouses is lower than the“non-empty nest” elderly, and the differences was not statistically significant. Among“empty nest” elderly, the prevalence of the old people living with their spouses wassignificantly lower than those living alone.The prevalence of the empty nest elderly whosuffer from one kind, two kind and three kinds and above of chronic disease wasrespectively43.2%,21.6%and11.7%. The first three sorts of chronic disease werehypertension, diabetes and heart disease. The prevalence of chronic diseases empty nest elderly was significantly different in different gender, age, marital status, formeroccupation, monthly income and Living conditions.2. The dysfunction rate of ADL in the elderly of “empty nest” and “non-emptynest” was respectively8.5%and14.6%, and difference was statistically significant. Theprevalence of the “non-empty nest” elderly was significantly higher than the “emptynest” elderly who live alone or with their spouses. The prevalence of the empty nestelderly whose ADL were normal, declined and lost was respectively79.0%,12.5%and8.5%. The function the prevalence of what is highest was “shopping”, and the lowestwas “Brush your teeth, wash your face and other”. The prevalence of losing ADL forempty nest elderly was significantly different in different gender, age, education levels,marital status, former occupation, monthly income and Living conditions.3. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in “empty nest” elderly and “non emptynest” elderly was respectively44.3%and47.7%, and the difference was statisticallysignificant. In addition, the prevalence of the elderly who live alone was a little higherthan the “non-empty nest” elderly, but there was no significance. The prevalence of the“empty nest” elderly who live with their spouses was significantly lower than the“non-empty nest” elderly. Among “empty nest” elderly, the prevalence of the old peopleliving with their spouses was significantly lower than those living alone.The prevalenceof the “empty nest” elderly who have mild, moderate and severe depression wasrespectively53.2%,44.6%and2.2%. The prevalence of depressive symptoms for“empty nest” elderly was significantly different in different age, education levels,marital status, former occupation, monthly income and Living conditions.4. The linear multivariate regression analysis showed that the prevalence of chronicdisease in the elderly of “empty nest” was positively correlated with female, old age,occupation, low monthly income. And the prevalence of disability of ADL in the“empty nest” elderly was correlated with old age, low education level, less exercise,regular consumption of health care products and no hobbies. Multiple linear regressionanalysis showed that income, occupation, less exercise, few communication withchildren and bad relation with their spouses were the factors of the depressive symptomsamong empty nest elderly.Conclusion1. The prevalence of chronic diseases between “empty nest” elderly and non-empty nest elderly was significantly different. The prevalence of empty nest elderly was higherthan non-empty nest elderly. Gender, age, occupation and income were the factorswhich affect chronic diseases.2. The prevalence of losing ADL for the “empty nest” elderly living with theirspouses was significantly lower than the “empty nest” elderly living alone. But theprevalence for the “empty nest” elderly living alone was lower than the “non-emptynest” elderly. The factors which influence the ADL of the “empty nest” elderly wereAge, education, weekly exercise, consumption of health products and having hobbies.3. The prevalence of depressive symptoms for the “empty nest” elderly living withtheir spouses was significantly lower than the “non-empty nest” elderly. But theprevalence for the “non-empty nest” elderly was lower than the “empty nest” elderlyliving alone. Income, weekly exercise, occupation, communication with their childrenand the relationship with their spouses were the factors which affect the depressivesymptoms.Therefore, we must take comprehensive and integrated interventions to improvethe physical and mental health of the empty nest elderly. In addition, the health of“empty nest” elderly living with their spouses were better than others’. we should focuson the health status of “empty nest” elderly living alone.