Influencing Factors and Policy Implications of Mental Health Risk of the Elderly: From the Perspective of Public Management

BACKGROUND: China’s atmospheric PM2.5 pollution is serious, and PM2.5 exerts a negative impact on the human respiratory system, cardiovascular, and mental health, and even more serious health risk for the elderly with weak immunity. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to analyse the impacts of PM2.5 microenvironment exposure on the health of the elderly and provide corresponding countermeasures. METHODS: The survey subjects are 118 retired elderly people in the community. PM2.5 exposure concentrations are monitored in summer (June 10 ∼ July 10, 2019) and winter (November 25 ∼ December 25, 2019). RESULTS: The exposure concentration in winter is higher than that in summer, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Under the impact of PM2.5 microenvironment exposure, smoking in the elderly can increase the concentration of PM2.5, and long-term exposure to PM2.5 in the elderly can cause mental health problems. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure of the elderly to the PM2.5 microenvironment leads to physical diseases and even psychological problems, which requires attention.

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Social Dimensions of Mental Illness among Rural Elderly Populations

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.2190/revp-59g8-3u2u-q2b0 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 169-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jon Hendricks ◽

Howard B. Turner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Physical Health ◽

Elderly People ◽

The Elderly ◽

Rural Elderly ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Elderly Persons ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Elderly Populations

Despite growing concern with rural elderly populations, little attention has focused on their mental health, ways it may correlate with physical health, or how rural mental health patterns compare to urban. Popular wisdom contends that elderly people in general, and rural elderly persons in particular, are at increased risk for mental illness. This article examines these questions. A review of available literature suggests that elderly people may be at only slightly greater risk of mental illness than the population at large, though there are some indications that rates of depression may be somewhat higher among the elderly population. Much of this same literature implies that objective environmental conditions play a significant role in the incidence of depression. Analysis of data gathered in a statewide random poll ( N = 743) indicates that while physical health tends to be poorer among rural populations, when health is held constant there is actually an inverse relationship between age and depression. Therefore, rural elderly persons are no more likely to be depressed than their urban counterparts despite harsher living conditions. Both conceptual and policy implications are discussed.

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Analysis of mental health status and its influencing factors of the elderly living in Xi’an, China

Academic Journal of Second Military Medical University ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1008.2012.01095 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (10) ◽

pp. 1095-1098

Author(s):

Hai-ying TENG ◽

Qian-yun WANG ◽

Lin-ping XIONG ◽

Yu-qin MA

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

The Elderly ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Elderly Living

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Mental Health Status and Influencing Factors of the Elderly in Ya’an Area After 5 years’ Lushan Earthquake

Illness Crisis & Loss ◽

10.1177/10541373211034017 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105413732110340

Author(s):

Ru Gao ◽

Liuxiu Xu ◽

Rong Yu ◽

Jing-Zhen Bai ◽

Zaijing Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Low Income ◽

Protective Factor ◽

The Elderly ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Lushan Earthquake ◽

Disaster Area

Objective: To understand the mental health status and its influencing factors of the elderly in the disaster area 5 years after the Lushan earthquake. Methods: A total of 2,579 cases of Ya’an residents aged 60 years or above were selected by using cluster sampling method. From January to May 2019, self-compiled questionnaire for basic information of affected residents and 12 General Health Questionnaire were used to assess the mental health status of the elderly. Results: 2,561 (99.3%) valid samples were collected. The positive rate of mental health was 220 (8.6%) cases. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that in the city, no chronic diseases, no body pain, and self-rated health status good in last one month was the protective factor for mental health of the elderly. Age group 60 years and above was the risk factor. Conclusions: Five years after the Lushan earthquake, there is a certain degree of mental health problems in the elderly in the disaster area, and corresponding intervention measures should be formulated. In particular, the researchers should pay more attention to the mental health of the rural elderly who were with low income, young age, and chronic diseases (or pain).

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