Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life
Objectives: Ageing is often associated with deteriorating mental and physical health and the need for long-term care, creating a fear of ageing. We investigated what people fear most in terms of disabling chronic diseases and their concerns regarding having long-term illnesses. Methods: Data were ob...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2018
|
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1796961626733150208 |
|---|---|
| author | Awang, Halimah Mansor, Norma Tey, Nai Peng Nik Osman, Nik Ainoon |
| author_facet | Awang, Halimah Mansor, Norma Tey, Nai Peng Nik Osman, Nik Ainoon |
| author_sort | Awang, Halimah |
| collection | UM |
| description | Objectives: Ageing is often associated with deteriorating mental and physical health and the need for long-term care, creating a fear of ageing. We investigated what people fear most in terms of disabling chronic diseases and their concerns regarding having long-term illnesses. Methods: Data were obtained from an online survey of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected in May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Of the most dreaded diseases, heart disease and cancer are life-threatening; however, dementia, diabetes, and hypertension persist and have a disabling effect for a long time. While there were variations in the diseases feared most across sex, ethnicity, and place of residence, the biggest worry for all respondents with regard to having a long-term illness was that they would become a burden to their family, a concern that superseded fear of dying. Conclusions: We found our survey respondents had a fear of chronic diseases and placing a burden on others. Thus, there is a need to provide motivation for people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to remain healthy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:56:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | um.eprints-22424 |
| institution | Universiti Malaya |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:56:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | SAGE Publications |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | um.eprints-224242019-09-18T07:45:11Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/22424/ Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life Awang, Halimah Mansor, Norma Tey, Nai Peng Nik Osman, Nik Ainoon H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine Objectives: Ageing is often associated with deteriorating mental and physical health and the need for long-term care, creating a fear of ageing. We investigated what people fear most in terms of disabling chronic diseases and their concerns regarding having long-term illnesses. Methods: Data were obtained from an online survey of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected in May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. Results: Of the most dreaded diseases, heart disease and cancer are life-threatening; however, dementia, diabetes, and hypertension persist and have a disabling effect for a long time. While there were variations in the diseases feared most across sex, ethnicity, and place of residence, the biggest worry for all respondents with regard to having a long-term illness was that they would become a burden to their family, a concern that superseded fear of dying. Conclusions: We found our survey respondents had a fear of chronic diseases and placing a burden on others. Thus, there is a need to provide motivation for people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to remain healthy. SAGE Publications 2018 Article PeerReviewed Awang, Halimah and Mansor, Norma and Tey, Nai Peng and Nik Osman, Nik Ainoon (2018) Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life. Journal of International Medical Research, 46 (1). pp. 175-184. ISSN 0300-0605, DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060517710857 <https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060517710857>. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060517710857 doi:10.1177/0300060517710857 |
| spellingShingle | H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine Awang, Halimah Mansor, Norma Tey, Nai Peng Nik Osman, Nik Ainoon Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| title | Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| title_full | Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| title_fullStr | Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| title_short | Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| title_sort | understanding ageing fear of chronic diseases later in life |
| topic | H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT awanghalimah understandingageingfearofchronicdiseaseslaterinlife AT mansornorma understandingageingfearofchronicdiseaseslaterinlife AT teynaipeng understandingageingfearofchronicdiseaseslaterinlife AT nikosmannikainoon understandingageingfearofchronicdiseaseslaterinlife |