Socioeconomic and sociocultural characteristics of the elders applying for social aid: A comparative study

Aim: This study generally aimed to examine the prevalence, frequency of psychological problems in elders; and the relation of these problems between the cultural environments. It is aimed to reveal the effects of cultural structure on the elderliness and psychological health in our country which has different cultures. Method: After 17 September 2013 in a cosmopolitan and metropolitan district of Izmir, Bornova, this study was implemented over the elders applying for social aid by visiting their house; besides, the people who were appropriate for the study of the inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as accepted to participate in the research in public areas randomly and unlikely. The participants were respectively applied Informed Consent Form, Sociodemographic Status Form, Cultural Feature Information Form and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results: 547 elders (180 woman and 367 men) participated in the study. It has been observed that participants condensed between 76–85 years old. Elders in the study are mainly widow. The economic situations of the 61 elders (11,15%) are weak, 441 ones (80,62%) are normal and 45 ones (8,23%) are good. 89 ones (16,3%) are retired; 415 ones (75,9%) are unemployed. It has been observed that the elders who are retired and employed have better economic situations than those who are unemployed. The differences between gender and income situations have been identified. As the age progresses, the economic situation weakens significantly; as the level of education increases, the economic situation increases significantly. The increase of the material situation has increased the rate of home ownership. It has seen that the elders in good economic situations live in 100th Year Locality (Ataturk Quarter and surroundings) and Centrum (Kazim Dirik, Ergene, Erzene, Evka 3 Quarters); those in weak ones reside in Upper Altindag and Isikkent-Pinarbasi Localities. When asked about the ethnic identities of the elders; 361 ones (66%) declared to be Turks, 89 ones (16.3%) did Kurds, 85 ones (15.5%) did Balkan Immigrants; 10 ones (1.8%) did Romans; 2 ones (0.4%) did Arab-Persians. It has been identified that the elders who expressed themselves as Turks live in 100th Year Locality (Ataturk Quarter and surroundings), Doganlar and Mevlana Quarters; Kurds do in Upper Altindag Locality; Balkan Immigrants do in Camdibi and Down Altindag Localities, Romans do in Doganlar and Mevlana Quarters, Centrum and surroundings. It is noteworthy that the economic situations of the Roman elders are predominantly weak. There has been a significant difference between ethnicity and weighted-consumed products, and the share of Turkish elders in bakery consumption has been found to be the highest. Although the familial problems that the women experience are significantly less than the males, the environmental problems that are experienced are more than the men. Familial and environmental problems have been seen to be the most experienced among the ages of 65-75. A statistically significant correlation has been identified between the marital and economic situation with the domestic problems. Culinary culture has also been a decisive factor in familial problems. 16% of the elders expressed to experience problems with their circles. The Kurdish ethnicity elders experienced more problems with their circles than others. 407 elders (74,4%) declared health problems. Age, ethnicity, alcohol and cigarette using played a decisive role in the type of health problem. Major psychological syndromes were detected in 46,07% of the elders. The average of the women's total BPRS score was significantly higher than the men. The average of Somatic Concern, Tension, Motor Retardation and Uncooperativeness sub-items was found to be high in the women elders, as well. There were significant differences between the average of BPRS score and age. A statistically significant correlation has been observed between Conceptual Disorganization, Hostility and Grandiosity sub-items and the marital status. There was a significant correlation between some BPRS sub-items and the economic situation. The average of Tension sub-item in elders who define themselves as the Balkan immigrants has been seen to be less than the elders who define themselves as Romans; other than this, no significant correlation was detected between the ethnicity and BPRS sub-items. There were significant correlation between alcohol and cigarette using and the average of Somatic Concern sub-item. Conclusion: Age, gender, marital and economic situations, places of residence, ethnicity, culinary cultures, alcohol and cigarette using of the elders have played determining roles in familial and environmental problems, health problems and psychological symptoms. Key Words: Aged; Male; Humans; Female; Widowhood; Ownership; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; Hostility; Prevalence; Syndrome; Turkey; Balkan Peninsula; Consent Forms; Marital Status; Marriage; Unemployment; Mental Health; Emigrants and Immigrants; Educational Status.