Volume 18, Issue 4 (July - August 2019)
Payesh 2019, 18(4): 357-367 |
Back to browse issues page
Ethics code: IR.UI.REC.1398.001
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Ghahfarokhi M S. Prevalence and correlates of living alone among elderly in Iran. Payesh 2019; 18 (4) :357-367
URL: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-1136-en.html
URL: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-1136-en.html
Faculty of Literature, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract: (3852 Views)
Objective (s): This study examined the pattern and trend of living alone among elderly during the last five censuses in Iran.
Methods: Data were obtained from two main sources: published Iranian population and housing census (1986, 1996, 2006, 2011 and 2016), and the individual data of 2% census in 2016. Then the characteristics of the sole elderly are described and the extent to which living alone is related to socioeconomic and demographic characteristics is determined. In order to investigate the relative importance of different correlates of the elderly living alone, a set of logistic regression models using STATA software for individual data of 2016 census has been used.
Results: The proportion of the elderly who lived alone was 13.9%, 9.9%, 9.9%, 14.5%, and 14.9% in 1986, 1996, 2006, 2011 and 2016 respectively. Living alone was associated with residence in urban, being male, having a secondary and high school education, being widowed, divorced, single, being housewife, having income with no job, age 60-69, and age 70-79. The variables included in the analysis were able to explain 43% of the variation in living alone in the whole sample (48% for men and 35% for women).
Conclusion: In Iran, living alone increased with age, life in urban areas, being a woman, being single, divorced, widowhood, being low educated, housekeeper and unemployment. If the ageing and the lack of supporting organizations continue to increase, then more difficult conditions will be created for elderly the future. Thus, considering the vulnerability of elderly people who live alone, the need for more appropriate policy and planning is required.
Methods: Data were obtained from two main sources: published Iranian population and housing census (1986, 1996, 2006, 2011 and 2016), and the individual data of 2% census in 2016. Then the characteristics of the sole elderly are described and the extent to which living alone is related to socioeconomic and demographic characteristics is determined. In order to investigate the relative importance of different correlates of the elderly living alone, a set of logistic regression models using STATA software for individual data of 2016 census has been used.
Results: The proportion of the elderly who lived alone was 13.9%, 9.9%, 9.9%, 14.5%, and 14.9% in 1986, 1996, 2006, 2011 and 2016 respectively. Living alone was associated with residence in urban, being male, having a secondary and high school education, being widowed, divorced, single, being housewife, having income with no job, age 60-69, and age 70-79. The variables included in the analysis were able to explain 43% of the variation in living alone in the whole sample (48% for men and 35% for women).
Conclusion: In Iran, living alone increased with age, life in urban areas, being a woman, being single, divorced, widowhood, being low educated, housekeeper and unemployment. If the ageing and the lack of supporting organizations continue to increase, then more difficult conditions will be created for elderly the future. Thus, considering the vulnerability of elderly people who live alone, the need for more appropriate policy and planning is required.
type of study: Descriptive |
Received: 2019/05/23 | Accepted: 2019/08/26 | ePublished ahead of print: 2019/08/31 | Published: 2019/09/7
Received: 2019/05/23 | Accepted: 2019/08/26 | ePublished ahead of print: 2019/08/31 | Published: 2019/09/7
References
1. United Nations, Living Arrangements of Older Persons: A Report on an Expanded International Dataset, Population Division. Division Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2017; 1-55 [ Available from: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/LivingArrangements.pdf]
2. Victor C. The social context of ageing: A textbook of gerontology. 1 th Edition: Routledge, London, United Kingdom, 2005 [DOI:10.4324/9780203338599]
3. Moen P, Wethington E. The concept of family adaptive strategies. Annual Review of Sociology 1992; 18: 233-251 [DOI:10.1146/annurev.so.18.080192.001313]
4. Martin LG. Living arrangements of the elderly in Fiji, Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Demography 1989; 26: 627-643 [DOI:10.2307/2061262]
5. DaVanzo J, Chan A. Living arrangements of older Malaysians: Who coresides with their adult children? Demography 1994; 31: 95-113 [DOI:10.2307/2061910]
6. Palloni A. Living arrangements of older persons. In Living arrangements of older persons: critical issues and policy responses, Population Bulletin of the United Nations, Special issue no. 42/43. New York: United Nations 2001. [Available from:https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/events/pdf/expert/1/palloni.pdf]
7. Bongaarts J, Zimmer Z. Living arrangements of older adults in the developing world: an analysis of demographic and health survey household surveys. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2002; 57: 145-157 [DOI:10.1093/geronb/57.3.S145]
8. Haslbeck JW, McCorkle R, Schaeffer D. Chronic illness self-management while living alone in later life: a systematic integrative review. Research on Aging 2012; 34: 507-547 [DOI:10.1177/0164027511429808]
9. Wandera SO, Ddumba I, Akinyemi JO, Adedini SA, Odimegwu C. Living alone among older persons in Uganda: Prevalence and associated factors. Ageing International 2017; 1; 42:429-446 [DOI:10.1007/s12126-017-9305-7]
10. Koosheshi M. Living Arrangements, Kin support network and health Status of elderly in Tehran city, thesis in Demography, Tehran 2008 [Persian]
11. kosheshi M, khosravi A, alizadeh M, torkashvand M, aghaei N, Population ageing in Iran. 2014; United Nations Population Fund: Iran: 143. [Available rom:https://iran.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Ageing%20in%20I.%20R.%20Iran_2.pdf]
12. Torabi F, Abbasi-Shavazi MJ, Askari-Nodoushan A. Trends in and patterns of solo living in Iran: an exploratory analysis. Journal of Population Research 2015; 32: 243-261. [DOI:10.1007/s12546-015-9152-x]
13. Cornwell EY, Waite LJ. Social disconnectedness, perceived isolation, and health among older adults. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 2009; 50:31-48. [DOI:10.1177/002214650905000103]
14. Dykstra PA. Older adult loneliness: myths and realities. European Journal of Ageing 2009; 6:91 [DOI:10.1007/s10433-009-0110-3]
15. Lim LL, Kua EH. Living alone, loneliness, and psychological well-being of older persons in Singapore. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research 2011; 2011:9 [DOI:10.1155/2011/673181]
16. Millán-Calenti JC, Sánchez A, Lorenzo-López L, Cao R, Maseda A. Influence of social support on older adults with cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, or both coexisting. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development 2013; 76:199-214 [DOI:10.2190/AG.76.3.b]
17. Mui AC. Living alone and depression among older Chinese immigrants. Journal of Gerontological Social Work 1999; 30:147-66 [DOI:10.1300/J083v30n03_12]
18. Russell D, Taylor J. Living alone and depressive symptoms: the influence of gender, physical disability, and social support among Hispanic and non-Hispanic older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 2009; 64:95-104 [DOI:10.1093/geronb/gbn002]
19. Iecovich E, Jacobs JM, Stessman J. Loneliness, social networks, and mortality: 18 years of follow-up. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development 2011; 72:243-263 [DOI:10.2190/AG.72.3.e]
20. Nzabona A, Ntozi J, Rutaremwa G. Loneliness among older persons in Uganda: examining social, economic and demographic risk factors. Ageing & Society 2016; 36:860-888 [DOI:10.1017/S0144686X15000112]
21. Goode WJ. World revolution and family patterns. 1 th Edition, Free Press of Glencoe, United States, New York, 1963
22. Statistical Centre of Iran. Results of the 1986- 2016 population and housing censuses 2016a, Statistical Centre of Iran. [Available from: www.amar.org.ir] [Persian]
23. Statistical Centre of Iran. The 2 % sample results of the 2016 population and housing censuses. Statistical Centre of Iran 2016b. [Available from: www.amar.org.ir] [Persian]
24. de Jong-Gierveld J, Social networks and social well-being of older men and women living alone, in Gender and ageing: changing roles and relationships, S. Arber, K. Davidson, and J. Ginn, 1 th Edition, Open University Press:the United Kingdom, 2003
25. Mahmoudiyan H. Internal Migration and Urbanization in Iran: Status quo, Challenges and Policy Guidelines. Policy Papers: Emerging Population Issues in IR of Iran 2015; 1:47-55
26. pumain D, The Urbanization process, in Demography: Analysis and Synthesis, Four Volume Set: A Treatise in Population, Caselli G, Vallin J, Wunsch G. 1 th Edition, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2005
| Rights and Permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |