Investigation of the correlation between economical-social factors and self-esteem of ‎elderly residents in Rasht nursing homes ‎

Introduction: In attention to the effect of self-esteem on elders’ health improvement, considering ‎economical and social factors are of importance.‎ Objective: This research was carried out to investigate involving factors with self-esteem of elders ‎residing in Rasht elderly nursing homes during ‎‏2008‏‎. ‎ Methods: This is a descriptive study conducted on ‎‏32‏‎ elders residing in elderly nursing homes. The ‎qualified elders filled the questionnaires included demographic characteristics and Rosenberg’s ‎Self-esteem measuring scale. The Pearson correlation between variables was determined using SPSS ‎soft ware version ‎‏15‏‎. ‎  Results: The average age of the participants was ‎‏73.53‏‎ (± ‎‏8.31‏‎). ‎‏4%‏‎ of participants were widowed, ‎‏43.8%‏‎ didn't have any children, ‎‏87.5%‏‎ were uneducated, and ‎‏12.5%‏‎ had primary education. Their ‎average time of residence was ‎‏1357±17.11‏days. The source of income for ‎‏59.4‏‎ % of participants ‎was through children and relatives. ‎‏27‏‎ elders (‎‏84.4%‏‎) had frequent visits with relatives. ‎‏34.4%‏‎ of ‎them had history of a disease. There were significant correlations between number of children, ‎marriage, education with job and number of previous jobs with gender job with education and ‎number of previous jobs and visit frequency with education and time of the last visit. There was ‎negative significant correlation between age and self esteem, but positive correlation between ‎economical situation and self esteem. ‎ Conclusion: Economical and social status of elders residing in elderly nursing homes has significant ‎effect on their self-esteem.‎