Assessing Anxiety, Depression and Psychological Wellbeing Status of Urban Elderly Under Represent of Tehran Metropolitan City

Objectives: the present study describes assessing mental health status (anxiety, depression, and psychological wellbeing) of old people in different age groups in tehran metropolitan city. The outcomes of this study could help to health policy makers to develop of better health policy in gerontology field by determine of priorities of mental care in different age groups of old people. Methods & Materials: this was a cross sectional study in 2010. The participants were (n=402) aged 60 years old and over which have underrepresented from Shahid Beheshti University. The survey methods were via face-to-face interviews, and just in a few cases as telephone interviews. The instrument to data collection included demographic questionnaire, k6 and yeild tools. Data analyzed by Stata and SPSS ver.15 through t-test, one-way anova. Regression models applied as well. Results: based on results in the past 4 weeks,10.9% of elderly had sever anxiety or depression symptoms and about half of them (46.5%) had moderate psychological distress. The rate of psychological distress increased with age growing, specifically in 60- 79 years old however, this rate declined from age of 80 years and over. Psychological distress levels among elderly women were more than old men in all age groups, except of 60-69 years old people. Regarding psychological wellbeing, feeling of tireless, lone less, and depression are the most common complain of house dowelling old people in tehran metropolitan area. As the results show 43.1% elderly participants were in moderate level and 17% of them were in the bad level of psychological wellbeing. Based on regression model, sex (P=0.012), housing (P=0.004), and retirement salary (P=0.048) were significant variables that effect on psychological distress. The income rate was only important component that effect on psychological wellbeing of elderly participants. There was no significant different between aged groups 60-64 and 65-69 in psychological distress. All disorders or chronic disease in elderly had effect on anxiety and depression symptoms in old people however, only musculoskeletal disease, pain, and tireless had significant impact on psychological wellbeing in elderly Conclusion: the important components that effect on mental health of elderly related to fragile elderly from aspect of socio economic factors. Based on the results of this study old women, homeless elderly or old people that living in renting home or in other wise have not enough income to alive, low educated elderly and also alone old people had more psychosocial distress symptoms and less psychological wellbeing. Meanwhile, the rate of income had the most important role to have a happiness feeling among old people in participants