| Objective1. To learn the population characteristics of empty-nesters in Yunnan cities2. To learn the health status of empty-nesters in Yunnan Province (related to chronic disease, loneliness and quality of life)3. To discuss factors associated with empty-nesters’ health status in Yunnan Province4. To provide evidence for government policy makers.MethodsUsed random cluster sampling method, designed questionnaire, UCLA loneliness scale and SF-36, and conducted the household survey among three cities’ empty-nesters communities. Data was double entered into Epidata and statistically analyzed by SPSS17.0. Measurement data was presented by±s. The Measurement is rate or proportion. The measurement data was tested by T-test and UNIANOVA etc. Counting data was tested by Chi-square. Multi-factors were Stepwise multiple linear regression and unconditioned Logistic regression. The p value under0.05stands for statistical significance. Results1. Population characteristicsThe sample size of empty-nesters living in cities of Yunnan provinces were402in total,176male (43.78%) and226female (56.22%) separately. The average age was71.13(±8.02). The mean age of male was72.22(±8.39). The majority is Han ethnicity with329samples (81.84%), and73sample (18.16%) from another ethnic groups.281(69.90%) were current married;6(1.49%) were unmarried;5(1.24%) were divorced; and110(27.63%) were widowed.70(17.41%) were illiterate;129(32.09%) attended primary schools;108(26.87%) attended junior school44(10.95%) attended senior school;28(6.97%) attended colleges; and23(5.72%) attended universities.2. Chronic diseasesAmong402empty-nesters living in cities, there were265(65.92%) with chronic diseases,170(42.29%) with hypertension,44(10.95%) with cerebrovascular disease,52(13.43%) with coronary artery disease,64(15.92%) with diabetes,15(3.73%) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and85(21.14%) with another chronic disease. There were152cases (57.36%) with one chronic disease,73cases (27.55%) with two chronic diseases, and40cases (15.09%) with three or more chronic disease. Multi-factor unconditioned logistic regression showed that factors associated with chronic diseases were professions before retiring, money support from their children or not, health self-assessment and self-care ability. Factors associated with hypertension were self-assessed health status and age. Factors associated with cerebrovascular were age, marital status, profession before retiring, saving money for endowment or not, money support from their children or not, having endowment insurance or not, and health status. Factors associated with diabetes were self-assessed health status, and age. Factors associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were money support from their children or not, health status, self-caring ability and age.3. Summary of UCLA Scale scoresThe average score of male was36.48±12.25, and the average score of female was34.21±10.69. The loneliness of male is significantly higher than female. The loneliness increased with aging, and the older above80years old have the highest score (34.21±10.69). The loneliness of Han ethnic group (35.67±11.21) was higher than another ethnic group (33.10±12.27). Current married empty-nesters had lowest scores (34.84±10.87), and unmarried empty-nesters had the highest scores (38.83±8.86). The scores of UCLA scale were increasing with higher education background. The loneliness of illiterate people was lowest (33.00±11.93) and the loneliness of empty-nesters with university education or above was highest (39.00±13.23). Intellectual empty-nesters had the highest loneliness scores (39.20±12.49) before retiring. Empty-nesters in cities without endowment insurance had significantly higher loneliness than those with endowment insurance. Self-assessed health status, self-caring ability, suffering chronic diseases were factors associated with the UCLA loneliness scores of empty-nester in cities. The research found that the worse the health status was the stronger loneliness they had. Stepwise multiple linear regressions showed that factors associated with the loneliness were age, gender, profession before retiring, health self-assessment, self-caring, suffering chronic diseases and endowment insurance.4. Summary of SF-36quality of lifeSF-36results showed that the health index score was lowest (50.99±21.56) and social function score was highest (87.56±23.16). There were no significant statistical difference between male and female on SF-36indexes. Body function, body role, body pain and emotion decreased with aging. Minorities’ empty-nesters were significantly higher than Han’s on body function and vitality. Health status and marital status had statistical influence on the difference of body function, body pain, vitality, social function and emotion role etc (P<0.05). Education background had statistical influence on the difference of body pain (P<0.05). Profession before retiring had statistical influence on the difference of health status, vitality, social function etc (P<0.05).5. Chronic diseases and quality of lifeEmpty-nesters with chronic diseases had lower quality of life scores than those without chronic disease. On General Health (GH), Physical Functioning (PF), Role Physical (RP), Body Pain (BP), empty-nesters with one chronic disease had the highest scores, following with those with two chronic diseases, and the lowest were those with three or more chronic disease. On Vitality (VT), empty-nesters with two chronic diseases had the highest scores, following with those with one chronic disease, and the lowest were those with three or more chronic disease. Empty-nesters with different chronic diseases had significantly statistical difference on (GH),(PF)(RP) and (BP)(p<0.010). On (GH),(PF), and (RP), those with hypertension, diabetes and another chronic disease had higher scores, and those with cerebrovascular, coronary heart disease and COPD had lower scores. On (BP), those with diabetes, cerebrovascular, coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases had higher scores, and those with COPD had lower scores.The loneliness scores of empty-nesters living in cities in Yunnan province were negative correlated with the indexes of quality of life. The significant differences indicated that the higher loneliness the empty-nesters had the lower quality of life they had.6. Comparison on the health between city Empty Nester and non Empty NesterThe prevatence rate of chronic disease Empty Nester was65.92%, the control group of non Empty Nester prevalence rate was68.94%, no significant difference; city Empty Nester loneliness score was significantly higher than that of non Empty Nester; two groups of elderly SF-36scale score, found the overall health,physical function, physical role, bodily pain, vitality, social function, emotional role, psychological health of8dimensions of empty nest group scores were significantly lower than non empty nesters, there was significant difference.ConclusionsThe health statuses of the402empty-nesters living in cities in Yunnan province were as below:the prevalence of chronic diseases was high (65.91%). Associated factors were age and marital status. Gender, profession before retiring, self-assessed health status, self-caring ability, chronic disease suffering statue, and endowment insurance were factors associated the loneliness of empty-nesters. Age, ethnicity, marital status, education, professions before retiring, and chronic diseases suffering status were factors associated with empty-nesters’ quality of life. The loneliness was negatively correlated with the quality of life.Suggestions:Improve the medical insurance system; develop policy and diversities multi-channel funding support on medical care. The community-based medical organizations should enhance the function of chronic disease prevention and control, and increase their capacity to provide services. Enhance the health education and social service support network on chronic disease among old empty-nesters. Improve basic life insurance system, and speed up the construction of social relief system. Increase the gender awareness. Recognize the role transformation function to let the empty-nesters not feel lonely. Improve the loneliness of empty-nesters in cities. Enhance the community culture building and encourage the participant of old people. Encourage empty-nesters living alone engage in a marriage. |
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