Lifestyle and its related factors in elderly

Context: Lifestyle recognition is important because of its ability to prevent diseases and promote the health of the body and mind.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the lifestyle and its related factors in elderly in Babol health centers.

Settings and Design: This study was a descriptive-analytic study that was carried out on the elderly population of Babol health centers in 2018.

Materials and Methods: The sample size was 500 elderly people over 60 years of age who were selected by systematic random cluster sampling method and entered the study. The research tools were the demographic questionnaire, the Iranian elderly lifestyle questionnaire.

Statistical Analysis Used: Data were Analyzed by SPSS 21 software using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient test, one-way ANOVA, and independent t-test.

Results: The findings of this study showed that the mean ± standard deviation score of healthy lifestyle in the elderly was 155.73 ± 16.28. Of included population, 243 (48.6%) indicated moderate lifestyle and 257 persons (51.4%) had a desirable lifestyle. The Chi-squared test showed that men had better lifestyle than women (P < 0.001), also elderly lifestyle was significantly associated with gender,education, income level, marital status, living arrangement, housing status, and age (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Regarding the study results, some demographic factors must be addressed in intervention program, aimed at life style promotion in elderly people.