Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Universidad de La Laguna, 38205 La Laguna, Spain.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jan 26;16(3):341. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16030341.
Psychological distress has been considered a key component in the psychosocial functioning and functional disability of the elderly, but the determining factors of social functioning and psychological distress in the elderly people are not yet fully known. The aim of this study is to perform a gender analysis of the relevance of psychological distress and psychosocial factors in the social functioning of the elderly. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 589 men and 684 women from the general Spanish population aged between 65 and 94 years was conducted. All participants were evaluated through questionnaires and scales that assess psychological distress, social functioning, stress, coping styles, self-esteem and social support. Results: Women scored higher than men in psychological distress, chronic stress, emotional coping and instrumental social support, whereas men scored higher than women in self-esteem and rational coping. Psychological distress was significantly associated in women and men with worse social functioning, which was also lower in older people and in women with lower self-esteem. Psychological distress has a considerable impact on the social functioning of the elderly, and gender is a relevant factor in the psychological distress experienced and its predictors.
心理困扰被认为是老年人心理社会功能和功能障碍的一个关键组成部分，但老年人社会功能和心理困扰的决定因素尚不完全清楚。本研究旨在对心理困扰和心理社会因素与老年人社会功能的相关性进行性别分析。这是一项横断面研究，样本为来自西班牙普通人群的 589 名男性和 684 名 65 至 94 岁的女性。所有参与者都通过评估心理困扰、社会功能、压力、应对方式、自尊和社会支持的问卷和量表进行了评估。结果：女性在心理困扰、慢性压力、情绪应对和工具性社会支持方面的得分高于男性，而男性在自尊和理性应对方面的得分高于女性。心理困扰与女性和男性的社会功能较差显著相关，老年人和自尊较低的女性的社会功能更差。心理困扰对老年人的社会功能有相当大的影响，而性别是经历心理困扰及其预测因素的一个相关因素。
