The Association Between the Perception of Aging and Hope in Older People of Gorgan, Iran

Background and aims: Aging is one of the life stages of all human beings, but people’s understandingof this issue is highly different. This study aimed to determine the association between the perceptionof aging and hope in older people.Methods: Using stratified random sampling, this cross-sectional study was performed on ۳۰۰ olderpeople referring to Gorgan’s comprehensive urban health service centers from ۲۰۲۱ to ۲۰۲۲. The AgingPerceptions Questionnaire and Schneider’s Hope Questionnaire were completed by older people. ThePearson correlation coefficient was estimated finally.Results: The mean total hope score in older women and men was ۳۹.۷۸ ± ۵.۶۱ and ۴۰.۹۳ ± ۵.۵۸,respectively. There is no statistically significant relationship between the total hope score andunderstanding of aging. The highest negative correlation was related to the emotional representationsubscale of perception of aging with a total hope score (r = -۰.۴۲, P < ۰.۰۰۰۱). The aging perceptionscore was higher in older people whose number of children was less than equal to ۳. In addition, thetotal hope score was better in older people who lived with their spouses and had a higher education,housing, and better economic status.Conclusion: In this study, the perceptions of aging and hope in older people had a high level. Althoughoverall hope was not related to perceptions of aging, hope was associated with the emotionalrepresentation subscale of perception of aging.

Keywords:

Older people , Hope , Perceptions of aging