Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the serious changes that happens with aging. CI and depression are the most common disabilities and causes of decreased life satisfaction in the elderly. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction and CI in the elderly.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 270 elderly people aged≥65 years covered by community health centers in Qaimshahr, Mazandaran province. The sampling method was a two-stage cluster classification. Three validated questionnaires, including demographic information, CI, and the life satisfaction scales, were used for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests, one-way ANOVA test, t test, and linear regression.
Results: The mean (standard deviation) of the age of the female and male was 74.93 (7.44) and 77.87 (8.42) years, respectively. About 60% of participants were female, 70% lived in the city, 71.90% were illiterate, and 64.10% were married. In general, 58.1% (n=157), 29.6% (n=80), and 12.2% (n=33) of the elderly had no/mild, moderate, and severe CI, respectively. In addition, there was a statistically significant association between age, gender, education level, marital status, place of residence, and life satisfaction and CI (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that high levels of CI are associated with low levels of life satisfaction in the elderly. Therefore, identifying risk factors related to CI in this population group and providing solutions such as increasing the level of social and family support for these people can increase their level of life satisfaction.