Palavras-chave
Como Citar
Resumo
Identificar o vínculo entre o sentimento de solidão e distintos indicadores de saúde em pessoas idosas rurais da província de Cuenca, com a intenção de determinar quais traços cognitivos, emocionais, funcionais ou de estilo de vida poderiam estar vinculados a um maior declínio. Método: Foram analisados 314 participantes (68,7% mulheres; idade média de 74,30 anos ± 6,25) de três municípios (Sinincay, Ricaurte e El Valle), utilizando instrumentos como a Escala de Solidão ESTE (ESTE-R), a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage, o Mini-Exame do Estado Mental, a Escala de Tinetti, a Escala de Funcionalidade de Lawton e Brody, a Escala de Crise Existencial e o Perfil de Estilo de Vida para Promoção da Saúde; aplicou-se uma análise de cluster k-means. No entanto, verificou-se que a idade avançada, a capacidade cognitiva reduzida, o maior risco de quedas e a dependência funcional estavam relacionados a um menor sentimento de solidão; além disso, a depressão esteve significativamente relacionada a um maior sentimento de crise existencial e a uma maior instabilidade funcional (equilíbrio e marcha). Não se encontrou relação significativa entre o sentimento de solidão e a capacidade cognitiva ou a função física; a idade avançada e estilos de vida pouco saudáveis parecem influenciar o declínio funcional e cognitivo. Esses resultados apontam para a necessidade de implementar programas comunitários de estilo de vida direcionados a pessoas idosas, adaptados às características de cada grupo, com o objetivo de melhorar seu bem-estar físico e mental.
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