Alizadeh-Khoei Mahtab, Mathews R Mark, Hossain S Zakia
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia.
J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2011 Dec;26(4):397-405. doi: 10.1007/s10823-011-9152-z.
The present study explores the impact of acculturation on health status and use of health and community aged care services among elderly Iranian-born immigrants to Australia. Three hundred two Iranian immigrants aged 65 years and over who had lived in the Sydney Metropolitan area for at least six months participated. Data were collected using a written survey instrument, face-to-face interviews, and telephone interviews. Iranian immigrants had higher levels of psychological distress, more limited physical function, greater need for help or assistance with activities of daily living, lower feelings of wellbeing, and were much less likely to use aged care services than the general population of older Australians. Participants who did not speak English at home were more likely to experience psychological distress and had greater limitations in their physical functioning. Elderly Iranians with better English proficiency had lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and reported less need for help and supervision in activities of daily living; they were also more likely to access health care services. Elderly Iranian immigrants experience higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of physical function than the general population of older Australians; those with limited proficiency in English are at greatest risk. These findings contribute to the enrichment of multicultural policy, social fairness, access, and equity for ethnic aged people.
本研究探讨了文化适应对出生于伊朗、移民到澳大利亚的老年人群健康状况以及健康和社区老年护理服务使用情况的影响。302名年龄在65岁及以上、在悉尼都会区居住至少六个月的伊朗移民参与了研究。数据通过书面调查问卷、面对面访谈和电话访谈收集。与澳大利亚老年人群体相比，伊朗移民心理困扰程度更高，身体功能更受限，在日常生活活动中更需要帮助或协助，幸福感更低，使用老年护理服务的可能性也小得多。在家不说英语的参与者更易出现心理困扰，身体功能受限也更大。英语水平较好的伊朗老年人焦虑和抑郁症状水平较低，在日常生活活动中对帮助和监督的需求也较少；他们也更有可能获得医疗保健服务。与澳大利亚老年人群体相比，伊朗老年移民心理困扰程度更高，身体功能水平更低；英语水平有限的人风险最大。这些研究结果有助于丰富针对老年少数民族的多元文化政策、社会公平、服务可及性和公平性。
