Level of Stress among Institutionalized and Non Institutionalized Elderly Women

INTRODUCTION

Stress is a feeling of pressure, tension, worry causing physical, social, psychological and emotional distress to an individual. Stress is necessary for our survival but when it goes beyond the tolerance level it might lead to so many psychological problems. Level of stress varies due to so many factors like age, physical strength, living condition, financial condition, marital status, peer pressure, academic pressure, sudden loss or death of a loved person, nature of stressors and length of the stress etc. Level of Stress in old age is gradually increasing these days as the life style, security and economic commitment, social life and gathering is influencing them. Stress level in old age mostly associated with the living conditions. As the emotional, personal and physical comforts are met the stress is less and vice versa.

Weintraub Ruskin (2010) study shows that Stress in oldage impairs the ability to deal with subsequent life stress and to negotiate the development states of later life successfully. It can stem from trauma at any point in life. Symptoms may be continuous to episodic or mild to severe, and the disorder may be acute or chronic. As the traumatic life incidents increases the psychiatric illness predispose to the development. Certain personality traits and good psychosocial support protect against those traumatic life situations. Elderly individuals do not appear more predisposed than young person to develop stress disorder. The best treatment for this is the psychotherapies like Antidepressants, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and family therapies. Although till date no systematic and controlled research has been done on the treatment of stress disorder in this age group.

Level of Stress among Institutionalized and Non institutionalized elderly women.

Institutionalized elderly women and Non institutionalized elderly women 2. To compare Institutionalized elderly women and Non institutionalized elderly women on Level of Stress

―There is a significant difference between Level of Stress in Institutionalized and Non Institutionalized elderly women‖.

The present study is applying the exploratory design.

Independent Variable: Elderly women living in Institutionalized and elderly women living at home with their family members Dependent Variable: Ranges of Stress from mild to moderate to severe levels. Sample: The present study consists of 200 elderly women (100 Institutionalized elderly women and 100 Non institutionalized elderly women) located in and around Bengaluru city. Only the elderly women living in institutions with minimum period of 6 months were considered for the study.

Stress source inventory: Developed by Arun k Singh, Ashish K Singh and Aparna Singh. Responses marked by the subject are scored as Seldom-1, Sometimes- 2, frequently -3, Unmarked items are given a zero score. Subsequently, scores earned by the subjects on every marked item are added together to get a total raw score. Higher the score, higher is the magnitute of personal stress. Likewise, lower the score, lower is the magnitute of personal stress. The maximum score on personal stress inventory is 105. consent. Purpose of the study was explained, and rapport was established. Demographic details were collected using Information schedule developed by the researcher and the Stress source inventory developed by Arun k Singh, Ashish K Singh and Aparna Singh was administered. Before administering the questionnaire, the participants could clarify their doubts, if any. After the completion of responses, the questionnaires were collected and analyzed using suitable statistical methods.

To meet the objective of the study, comparison was made on the level of stress of institutionalized elderly and non institutionalized elderly women. To find out the difference between the two groups‗t‘ test was calculated, the obtained results were shown in the Table 2 and discussed.

Considering the level of Stress scores, Form the table it shows that the Institutionalized elderly women has obtained a mean scores of 40.08 with the SD being 10.37 and the Non institutionalized elderly women has obtained a mean scores of 30.45 with the SD being 4.83. Institutionalized elderly women have obtained higher mean scores than Non institutionalized elderly women. The obtained t-value is t=8.41, which indicates that the obtained result is significant at 0.01 level and the hypothesis which states that ―There is a significant difference between Level of Stress among Institutionalized and Non institutionalized elderly women‖ is accepted . The obtained mean scores indicate that Institutionalized elderly women show higher level of stress when compared to non institutionalized elderly women. The probable reasons may be loneliness and feeling of worthlessness, as they are away from the family and loved ones. Economic condition is also another factor which probably another cause for their stressful life. The stress level of non institutionalized women is comparatively very low. This may be attributed to the fact that they have an active family life, with their loved ones around them offering support and security mentally and financially.

CONCLUSION:

The obtained results conclude that ―There is a significant difference between level of stress among Institutionalized elderly women and Non-institutionalized elderly women‖.

IMPLICATIONS:

Based on the study, we can arrive at implications that 1. Stressors are the main factors for the institutionalized elderly women to experience a stressful life. To name a few, conflicts in the family, feeling of insecurity, frustration with the present financial condition and fear of death. 2. Peer association, participation in the institution‘s day to day activities, reading and music etc. are probable replacements that will help them cope their stress. 3. Government or the institution itself can arrange stress buster programmers like Pranayama (breathing technique), yoga, music therapy, laughter therapy etc. 4. Though non institutionalized women experience certain amount of stress, it does not affect their overall well being. Productive activity in the family helps invoke positive attitude, keeping them content and complacent.

1. The study was limited to the sample of elderly women participants. 2. The study was mainly based on standardized questionnaire and interview method; instead it could have elaborated to intervention study. 3. The study didn‘t strictly consider the factors such as a cultural background, socio-economic status, and geographical area which majorly influences the lifestyle and health of an individual which in turn influence the generality of the study. Depression, Stress & Anxiety Scale. National Psychological Corporation. Dhanya N, Jaya, & George, M. (2011). Assessment of the stress experienced by the senior citizens in Ernakulam District of Kerala. International Journal of Current Research,3(5), pp. 39-43. Gellis, Z. D., Kim, E. G., & Mccracken, S. G. (2014). Chapter 2: Anxiety Disorders In Older Adults. Council On Social Work Education, pp. 1-19. Gurung, S., & Ghimire, S. (2014). Role of family in elderly care. Kessler Ronald C, Kendler Kenneth S, Heath Andrew, Neale Michael C, Eaves Lindon J. Social Support, Depressed Mood, and Adjustment to Stress: A Genetic Epidemiologic Investigation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1992;62:257–72. Wolinsky Fredric D, Wyrwich Kathleen W, Babu Ajit N, Kroenke Kurt, Tierney William M. Age, Aging, and the Sense of Control Among Older Adults: A Longitudinal Reconsideration. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 2003;58B:S212–20. Zunzunegui Maria V, Beland François, Llacer Alicia, Leon V. Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms Among Spanish Elderly. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 1998;33:195–205..

Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru