Al-Kandari Yagoub Y, Crews Douglas E
*Department of Sociology and Social Work and Anthropology,Kuwait University,Kuwait.
†Department of Anthropology and School of Public Health,The Ohio State University,USA.
J Biosoc Sci. 2014 Jul;46(4):518-30. doi: 10.1017/S0021932013000576. Epub 2013 Nov 14.
The aim of this study was to examine differences in several aspects of health between Kuwaiti men and women aged 60 years and over across three age categories (60-69, 70-79, 80+ years). The relationships between several social support variables, somatic symptoms and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were examined. A total of 1427 adult men (472) and women (955) aged 60 years and over representing all six governorates were selected. Data were collected during 2008-2009 by interview and completion of a questionnaire by participants in their own homes, after obtaining their informed consent. The Social Support Scale (SSS), Frequency of Contact Scale (FOC), Strength of Relations (SOR), Somatic Symptoms Inventory (SSI) and self-rated scales of general health were included. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. The data show that self-rated health and health in the last year differ significantly across age groups. Glycaemia differed significantly across the three age groups for the total sample. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in older respondents than younger ones, but no significant differences were observed between men and women. No significant differences in somatic symptoms were observed across the three age groups. Strength of relationship, frequency of contact, social support and children living with an elderly adult were all associated with fewer somatic symptoms, and all, except social support, were associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Having children, the perception of social support, frequency of contact with, and strength of, relationships with kin are important modulators of somatic symptoms and blood pressure among elderly Kuwaitis.
本研究的目的是调查科威特60岁及以上的男性和女性在三个年龄组（60 - 69岁、70 - 79岁、80岁及以上）之间在健康的几个方面的差异。研究了几个社会支持变量、躯体症状与收缩压和舒张压之间的关系。总共选取了代表所有六个省份的1427名60岁及以上的成年男性（472名）和女性（955名）。在获得参与者的知情同意后，于2008 - 2009年通过访谈以及参与者在自己家中填写问卷的方式收集数据。纳入了社会支持量表（SSS）、接触频率量表（FOC）、关系强度（SOR）、躯体症状量表（SSI）以及总体健康自评量表。测量了收缩压和舒张压。数据显示，不同年龄组的自评健康状况和过去一年的健康状况存在显著差异。总样本的血糖在三个年龄组之间存在显著差异。老年受访者的收缩压和舒张压高于年轻受访者，但男性和女性之间未观察到显著差异。在三个年龄组中未观察到躯体症状的显著差异。关系强度、接触频率、社会支持以及与老年人同住的子女数量均与较少的躯体症状相关，并且除社会支持外，所有这些因素均与较低的收缩压和舒张压相关。对于科威特老年人而言，有子女、对社会支持的感知、与亲属的接触频率以及关系强度是躯体症状和血压的重要调节因素。
