The State of Hope and Its Related Demographic Variables in the Elderly of Birjand City

Background: The global population is undergoing rapid aging, highlighting the importance of assessing the hope levels of the elderly to develop educational and welfare programs aimed at enhancing their quality of life. This study aimed to assess the state of hope and its associated factors among elderly individuals in Birjand city. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study included 441 elderly aged 60 and above from Birjand City, selected using a systematic stratified sampling method in 2018. Data were collected through interviews conducted by trained interviewers using the standard questionnaire “Schneider's Hope of the Elderly (SHS)." Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software, and statistical tests, including independent T-Test, ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test, were applied at a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: The average age of the participants was 70.1 ± 7.3 years. The mean scores for hope, agentive thinking, and strategic thinking were 27 ± 3.3, 12.9 ± 2.1, and 14.1 ± 2.1, respectively. Men had significantly higher scores in agentive thinking (P < 0.001) and the overall hope score (P < 0.003) compared to women. Illiterate individuals had lower agentive thinking scores than other groups (P < 0.001). Additionally, married individuals had significantly higher scores in agentive thinking, strategic thinking, and overall hope scores compared to other elderly individuals. Conversely, elderly individuals without children had lower scores in these areas compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the study's findings, it is essential to develop and implement educational and welfare interventions aimed at increasing hope among the elderly, particularly targeting women, single individuals, those who are lonely, and those with lower levels of education.