Study of Anxiety Among Older People in Kazakhstan and Factors Affecting This Indicator

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this research was to study of anxiety among older people in Kazakhstan and factors affecting this indicator. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 221 randomly selected elderly people from different regions of Kazakhstan. The survey covered questions of socio-demographic type and also used the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). Results: The majority of participants showed low levels of anxiety on the test. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of older adults experienced mild and moderate anxiety, accounting for 33% and 23.1%, respectively. The analysis showed that age (OR = 0,852, 95% CI: 0,779-0,931, p < 0,001), gender (OR = 8,167, 95% CI: 3,232-20,642, p < 0,001), level of education (OR=9,928, CI 95%: 3,760 - 26,212, p < 0,001) and living conditions (OR=0,167, 95% CI: 0,060-0,467, p = 0,001) have a statistically significant impact on the anxiety level of this population group. Conclusion: The results of the analysis confirm the importance of developing and implementing a set of measures aimed at improving the quality of life of older people, taking into account the individual characteristics and needs of each person. The following measures can be suggested to improve the quality of life of older persons: organize social activity and community involvement programs through clubs and activities; establish accessible health and social service centers where older persons can receive qualified care; use technology, such as mobile applications and smart devices, to facilitate daily life, including telemedicine and home-based services.

Keywords

• anxiety
• older people
• risk factors