Factors Influencing Mental Health of the Elderly in Urban Area, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey research aimed to observe mental health situation and factors influenc-ing mental health among the elderly in urban area of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. The study involved 280 elderly people aged 60 years and over, selected by stratified random sampling method. Data were collected through interview from April to May 2017, and analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. The study results showed that majority of the elderly in urban area of Ratchaburi province were mentally healthy (79.3%); and only 20.7% had mental health problem. The factors that significantly influenced their mental health were physical health status, self-esteem, employment, and marital status (p<0.05). The chance to be mentally healthy among the elders with good physical health was 8.3 times higher than those with poor physical health; the chance among those with high self-esteem was 5 times higher than those with low self-esteem; the chance among those who were employed was 2.6 times higher than the unemployed; and the chance among those who lived with their partners was 2.4 times higher than those who were single, widow, divorced, or separated. Therefore, the responsible organizations should improve the mental health situation of the elderly in urban area of Ratchaburi province by promoting their physical health, self-esteem, employment, participation in social activities, and appropriate access to health services.