Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction With rising age, the incidence of physical and mental problems increases. Physiological and social changes occur across the lifespan that can affect an individual’s health and ability. The present study was aimed to determine older adult’s ability to recognize cognitive changes...

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Main Authors: Hossein Ebrahimi, Mina Hosseinzadeh, Reihaneh Seifi Saray, Marian Wilson, Hossein Namdar Areshtanab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-05-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03096-2
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author Hossein Ebrahimi
Mina Hosseinzadeh
Reihaneh Seifi Saray
Marian Wilson
Hossein Namdar Areshtanab
author_facet Hossein Ebrahimi
Mina Hosseinzadeh
Reihaneh Seifi Saray
Marian Wilson
Hossein Namdar Areshtanab
author_sort Hossein Ebrahimi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction With rising age, the incidence of physical and mental problems increases. Physiological and social changes occur across the lifespan that can affect an individual’s health and ability. The present study was aimed to determine older adult’s ability to recognize cognitive changes and its relation with mental health status. Materials and Methods A descriptive correlational design was used to recruit 423 older adults who were referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran in 2019 to receive primary health care. A systematic random sampling method was used for selecting participants. Data collection tools included a demographic-social questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire for assessing mental health (with 4 subscales) and a questionnaire of ability to recognize cognitive changes (with 8 sub-scales). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results The mean score of mental health of the older adults was 56.35 (8.40) which shows moderately impaired mental health. The most impaired aspect of mental health detected was the social function dimension 13.20 (2.67). The average of the total ability score was 41.19 (4.78) and the physical strength dimension had the highest average of 9.08 (1.80) and the empowerment obligation dimension had the lowest average of 3.06 (1.08). There was significant relationship between dimensions of depression (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.1, p = 0.04) and social functioning (r = 0.17), p < 0.001) with the ability to recognize cognitive changes of the older adults. Conclusion Negative mood states and social functioning were associated with the ability to recognize cognitive changes in this population of older adults. This sample exhibited moderately impaired mental health status and relatively large burdens of untreated affective symptoms. Although causality cannot be determined with this cross-sectional design, use of social programs to keep older adults mentally active, as well as cognitive rehabilitation programs could be tested with longitudinal designs for their impact on cognitive change recognition.
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spelling doaj.art-6f9266a8733841dcaddaff2d9ebce08f2022-12-22T02:23:51ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-05-012211710.1186/s12877-022-03096-2Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional studyHossein Ebrahimi0Mina Hosseinzadeh1Reihaneh Seifi Saray2Marian Wilson3Hossein Namdar Areshtanab4Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Health Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesWashington State University College of NursingDepartment of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesAbstract Introduction With rising age, the incidence of physical and mental problems increases. Physiological and social changes occur across the lifespan that can affect an individual’s health and ability. The present study was aimed to determine older adult’s ability to recognize cognitive changes and its relation with mental health status. Materials and Methods A descriptive correlational design was used to recruit 423 older adults who were referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran in 2019 to receive primary health care. A systematic random sampling method was used for selecting participants. Data collection tools included a demographic-social questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire for assessing mental health (with 4 subscales) and a questionnaire of ability to recognize cognitive changes (with 8 sub-scales). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results The mean score of mental health of the older adults was 56.35 (8.40) which shows moderately impaired mental health. The most impaired aspect of mental health detected was the social function dimension 13.20 (2.67). The average of the total ability score was 41.19 (4.78) and the physical strength dimension had the highest average of 9.08 (1.80) and the empowerment obligation dimension had the lowest average of 3.06 (1.08). There was significant relationship between dimensions of depression (r = 0.21, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.1, p = 0.04) and social functioning (r = 0.17), p < 0.001) with the ability to recognize cognitive changes of the older adults. Conclusion Negative mood states and social functioning were associated with the ability to recognize cognitive changes in this population of older adults. This sample exhibited moderately impaired mental health status and relatively large burdens of untreated affective symptoms. Although causality cannot be determined with this cross-sectional design, use of social programs to keep older adults mentally active, as well as cognitive rehabilitation programs could be tested with longitudinal designs for their impact on cognitive change recognition.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03096-2AgingMental healthAbilityCognitive changes
spellingShingle Hossein Ebrahimi
Mina Hosseinzadeh
Reihaneh Seifi Saray
Marian Wilson
Hossein Namdar Areshtanab
Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study
BMC Geriatrics
Aging
Mental health
Ability
Cognitive changes
title Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study
title_full Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study
title_short Ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health: a cross-sectional study
title_sort ability of older adults to recognize cognitive changes and its relationship with mental health a cross sectional study
topic Aging
Mental health
Ability
Cognitive changes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03096-2
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