Evaluation of the Relationship of Employment and Economic Status with the Feeling of Mental Well-Being in the Elderly Living in Northern Iran.

Background and purpose: The feeling of mental well-being plays a role in mental and physical health, increased life expectancy, and sense of comfort and well-being in human beings. Moreover, quality of life along with economic and social indicators is the greatest desire and most important goal of human life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of employment and economic status with the feeling of mental well-being in the elderly.

Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 200 elderly people living in Northern Iran, in 2018 were recruited to the study through available sampling method. The data collected using the Subjective Well-Being Questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and frequency) and inferential statistical tests (Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression). The significance level was considered at P<0.050.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of the age of the research units was 69.00±8.22 years. The results showed that the mean of psychological well-being was higher than that of other dimensions (80.00±11.80), and emotional well-being had the lowest mean (37.00±6.36). The Pearson correlation coefficient test did not show a significant relationship between employment and feeling of mental well-being (P=0.550), but a positive and significant correlation was observed between economic status and feeling of mental well-being (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Due to the correlation between economic status and the feeling of mental well-being of elderly people, it is essential to consider the necessary solutions in this regard.