The Effect of Peer Education on Anxiety, Stress and Depression in Elderly

Introduction: Anxiety and depression are common mental disorders in the elderly ،especially the elderly who are admitted to nursing homes residents. The effcts of peer education have been addressed in diffrent populations, but this method of education has not been applied in the elderly population of Iran, and its effct has not been studied. The present study investigated the peer education on anxiety, stress and depression of the elderly nursing home residents in Qum city.Materials & Methods: This research is a quasi‑experimental study with an intervention and control group and it was conducted on ۷۰ elderly citizens living in Qom nursing homes. For the intervention group, a relaxation and stress reduction program was trained through the peer group. The control group received resident's routine care. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire and Depression Anxiety StressScale‑۲۱ questionnaire. Data were collected from the beginning of the study, ۱۰ and ۳۰ days after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS ۱۹, descriptive statistics, independent t‑test and RM-ANOVA. This research has been approved by the Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research of QUMS, with the MUQ.REC.۱۳۹۵.۱۶۰.Results: The results of the study showed no significant difference between any of the demographic variables at the beginning of the study (p>۰.۰۵). The statistical test showed that the effects of time (p< ۰.۰۰۱) and group (p< ۰.۰۱۱) were significant on anxiety, stress, and depression.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that peer education can decrease anxiety, stress and depression in the elderly. Therefore, this educational method can be used to promote various health education programs have been used to health promotion, especially in the elderly community

Keywords:

Peer Education , Anxiety , Stress , Depression , Elderly.