scholarly journals Widowed persons in Serbia: Change in number and general demographic characteristics (1980-2016)

Stanovnistvo ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-108
Author(s):  
Goran Penev ◽  
Biljana Stankovic

Widowed persons represent a vulnerable population group, especially because the loss of a spouse is usually a part of old people?s experience. In old age, people are typically faced with multiple constraints, related to health, financial resources, family and other social relationships. Changes that accompany the death of spouse and widowhood are generally long-term and largely negative for many widowed persons. With advanced population ageing, the share of the widowed in the total population is increasing, and this is also true for Serbia. With a crude widowhood rate of 11.7% in 2011, Serbia is at the very top of the list of European countries and has the highest widowhood rate of men (5.2%). However, widowhood primarily affects women, and 78% of the widowed in Serbia are widows. This paper analyses the widowhood in Serbia from 1980 to 2016. The main objective is to describe the trends and characteristics of widowed persons in this period. This article is primarily based on the analysis of previously unpublished census results and vital statistics data. In Serbia, in the period of 1981-2011, there was a continuous increase in the number of widowed persons and in 2011 it was 37.5% higher than 30 years before. Furthermore, the share of the widowed in the total population increased significantly (from 8.5% to 11.7%). Widowhood is considerably more present among women and the elderly. More than four fifths of the widowed are older than 60 years, and the values of all used demographic indicators of widowhood are three or four times higher in women. The authors mention the noticeable decrease in remarriage among widowed persons and a major decrease in the nuptiality rate of the widowed, especially among widowers. The observed educational structure of the widowed shows a higher percentage of persons with a lower educational level. Another significant finding was that the widowed represent half of the total number of people who live alone in one-person households. Among them, more than four fifths are 65 years old or older, and a full half are older than 75. The authors concluded that further quantitative and qualitative studies of demographic, but also social, psychological, health and other aspects of the widowed in Serbia are needed. Additionally, these results can represent the analytical basis for policy makers to identify needs and define different measures and actions directed towards the elderly, among which widowed persons, and especially widowers, are particularly vulnerable categories.

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (08) ◽  
pp. 1558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Sadeghi Gandomani ◽  
Mahshid Ghoncheh ◽  
Hamid Salehiniya

One of the achievements of the 21st century is the aging population (Angus and Reeve, 2006). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), senility is passing the 60th birthday (Bengtson and Allen, 2009). According to forecasts, by 2050, the population of the world 65-year-old age group will reach over 1.4 billion people from 550 million. It means that the world's aging index, rising from 24 people in 1950 to 33 people in 2000, will increase to 101 people in 2050 (Christensen et al., 2009). Currently, due to lower birth rates, increased life expectancy, health promotion, and disease detection, Iran is also in the age structure transition phase of the population from youth to senility (Noroozian, 2012). Therefore, elderly people are considered as the largest population group in Iran. According to the census conducted in 2016, the ratio of the elderly of Iran reached 6.1% in the past five years from 5.7% (Yearbook, 2017). It is anticipated that by 2050, the Iran’s elderly population will reach 31.5% of the total population of the country (Yearbook, 2013, 2017). Due to the WHO, the world's elderly population will reach 21.5% in 2050 and 24% in Asia (Organization, 2009), according to which the population of the elderly people in Iran will be higher than the whole world average and the Asia average till 4 years (Yearbook, 2017). This demographic crisis in Iran can be called the senility tsunami, which can be debatable in various aspects including social, economic, health, medical, and political, in developing countries like Iran.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692199686
Author(s):  
Borja Rivero Jiménez ◽  
David Conde-Caballero ◽  
Lorenzo Mariano Juárez

Loneliness among the elderly has become a pressing issue in Western societies. In the Spanish context, the problem of the so-called “empty” Spain disproportionately affects this population group—elderly individuals living in rural areas with low population density, and therefore at higher risk of social exclusion and isolation. We introduce here a mixed-method, quantitative-qualitative research protocol, triangulated with technological tools, designed to improve both data acquisition and subsequent data analysis and interpretation. This study will take place in a rural locality in the Extremadura region (Spain), chosen according to a particular socio-demographic profile. The De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale will be used on a cohort of 80 people over 65 years old. Within this cohort, a smaller sample of 20–30 individuals will be selected for semi-structured interviews about their beliefs and experiences of loneliness. Finally, data gathered from technological tools (smartbands, Bluetooth sensors) will allow us to monitor social interactions and to map daily loneliness/interaction patterns. Data will be triangulated by analyzing and comparing the empirical material gathered through these different methods and tools. Strict adherence to ethical standards for data protection and handling will be essential through data collection and analysis. As well as providing insights into the phenomenon of loneliness in old age, the use of different methods and tools for data collection will provide the basis for an epistemological reflection on the scope and limits of each one of these methods.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-65
Author(s):  
Damodaran Rajasenan ◽  
M. S. Jayakumar ◽  
Bijith George Abraham

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to link the multifarious problems of the elderly in a socio-economic and psychological framework. Design/methodology/approach – The universe of the sample is elderly left behind in emigrant households in Kerala. In total, 600 samples were mustered using multistage stratified random sampling method. The paper, with the aid of factor analysis, χ2 and correspondence analysis, blemish the principal factors responsible for the migration-induced exclusion of the elderly. Findings – The empirical result derived from the study shows that migration-induced exclusion is all pervasive in Kerala. The elderly left behind yearn for the presence of their children rather than the emigration and concomitant remittances. Research limitations/implications – The findings of the study are helpful to the policy makers to understand the issues faced by the elderly and include all stakeholders concerned to find a solution to tackle these problems faced by the elderly due to emigration of their children. Practical implications – The study is practically relevant in developing appropriate policy framework in Kerala as it illumines the role of the government to overcome the exclusionary trend and other manifold problems of the elderly. Social implications – The study sheds light to a new social problem developing in the state in the form of elderly exclusion owing to emigration of the young working groups in regional dimensions, demographic levels, community angles and the emerging culture of old age home in the Kerala economy and society. Originality/value – The study is a unique one and tries to situate the principal factors responsible for the emigration-induced exclusion of the elderly in Kerala with empirical evidence.


2013 ◽  
pp. 109-112
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Rossetti ◽  
Diana Solari ◽  
Maria Laura Rainoldi ◽  
Stefano Carugo

BACKGROUND High blood pressure is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factor and its incidence is continuously increasing: on 2025 1/3 of adult world population will suffer of it. Moreover, the therapy of elderly hypertension sufferer patient is still growing up in importance for the continuous increase of world population average life. With ageing, the cardiovascular system suffers neurohormonal and haemodinamic modifications which determine the onset of isolate systolic hypertension, which is characteristic of the elderly. This pathology results linked to a higher cardiovascular risk. AIM OF THE STUDY This review aims to analyze and evaluate present and future therapeutic opportunities about anti-hypertensive therapy in elderly people. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Also in elderly people systolic blood pressure values must be lower than 150 mmHg, but it’s also important to maintain diastolic pressure not under 70 mmHg, to avoid phenomenons of cerebral and coronary hypo-perfusion (J curve). The benefits of an effective anti-hypertensive therapy are achieved thanks to both blood pressure lowering “per se” and to the decrease of cardiovascular mortality and morbility. Blood pressure control in the elderly is a hard challenge for the low compliance to the therapy, for the importance of the comorbidity and for the supplementary risk factors. ESH-ESC 2007 guidelines recommend for elderly highblood pressure sufferer patient the use first of all of calcium-antagonists and thiazides diuretics, and for second line ACE-inhibitors, ARB and beta-blockers. In several patients combinations of two or more drugs are necessary to obtain pressure control.


2020 ◽  
pp. 30-32
Author(s):  
Divya Gaur ◽  
J. ManoRanjini ◽  
Grace Madonna Singh

Ageing is a phase when an individual faces many physical and psychological changes with the passing of years that ultimately affects their life style and their health status also1. Psychological problems and changes in psychological health can directly affect daily activities of the person as he or she will not be able to carry out those activities with their full potential. And due to the less awareness and information about the psychological problems and treatment, they lack to access the services and treatment properly3. Method- Quantitative research approach was adopted; total 61 participants were selected through Consecutive sampling technique. Data was collected by administering Socio- demographic Performa, and Ryff’s Psychological well being scale. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result- In the present study the psychological well being of people residing in elderly homes before the intervention was assessed using interview method. Results shows that majority of sample (91.8%) had good psychological well being , followed by average (8.19%) psychological well being during pre- intervention assessment. Where the post intervention level of psychological well being was found very good in 100% sample. Conclusion- The study concludes that the elderly who are residing in retirement homes without family have some sort of decrease in psychological well being for many reasons they are not able to adjust in the demographic shift and lose their well being. After getting involved in activities, elderly psychological well being was improved to some extent. For all the elderly living in selected old age homes, it’s found that getting involved in group task or activities is a good and effective way to overcome the situation, and it has helped to improved their psychological wellbeing.


Author(s):  
Ivan Marinkovic

The results of the 2002 census pointed out to an enormous increase in the number of inhabitants who were nationally undeclared or undecided. In the inter-census period 1991-2002, this population group increased for more than ten times (from 5 054 to 55 016). According to the share in the total population of Vojvodina (2.71%), they are - along with the Croats (2.78%) and the Slovaks (2.79%) - located immediately after the most numerous nationalities, the Serbs and the Hungarians. The paper analyzes the basic demographic characteristics (gender and age structure) of the undeclared and undecided persons, as well as the differences and similarities with other nationalities. The paper also presents the unequal spatial distribution of that population (at the settlement and municipal level), pointing out the interdependence between a great number of Yugoslavs and the enormous increase in the persons who were nationally undeclared or undecided. Using the features mother tongue and religion, the author tried to establish the relative relation between the number of the nationally undeclared and the number of nationally undecided persons.


2021 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
Tran Quynh Anh ◽  
Pham Thi Thu Trang ◽  
Do Vu Minh Ha

Caring for an aging population is an emerging public health problem, and the quality of life (QoL) among the elderly is a significant concern. Our study aimed to describe the health - related quality of life (HRQoL) and factors associated with good HRQoL among the elderly in three communes of Hanam province in Vietnam. A cross - sectional design was used with a sample size of 479 participants aged 60 and above. HRQoL was measured using the SF - 36. Comparison of characteristics between those with high HRQoL and those with low HRQoL was done using Pearson chi - square tests. Results were reported using descriptive statistics and odds ratios with 95% CI (Confidence Interval). Many of the elderly had moderate HRQoL (41.3%), and elderly men were more likely to have higher QoL in terms of physical health and psychological health than elderly women. Our findings also indicated that some factors including older age, low educational level, those not living with their spouse, poor financial condition, having more than two health problems and possessing unhealthy drinking behaviors were significantly positive associated with HRQoL. Findings suggest interventions are needed to improve the quality of life among the elderly in rural areas of Vietnam.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (40) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fernanda Neves Silveira de Souza ◽  
Luiza Fernandes Fonseca Sandes ◽  
Amanda Miranda Brito Araújo ◽  
Daniel Antunes Freitas

Objective: To investigate the perception and oral health practices among older quilombola women (black population group, descendants of slaves in Brazil). Methods: Qualitative research with elderly women living in a rural community formed by descendants of slaves in Brazil. The study was performed through a semi-structured interview with nine of the rural community residents and following content analysis of the narratives. Results: All elderly women are edentulous (partially or totally) and dental problems that led them to use natural means of pain relief were identified. With the analysis of the transcripts, three main categories emerged: the elderly of Quilombola Rural Community Julia Mulata and edentulism; self-perceived oral health of older women of the Quilombola Rural Community Julia Mulata; Popular practices used in the presence of health problems. Conclusion: Quilombola elderly consider the loss of teeth as natural aging; they present life stories linked to dental problems; seek to solve their dental problems with the use of traditional folk therapies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Marcia A. Petrini

Abstract Objective The elderly population has proliferated worldwide. The empty-nest family pattern has become predominant among the aging people, and they are more vulnerable to the development of cognitive disorders. However, there is no standardized service in the community nursing care that includes procedures on how to improve the cognitive function of the elderly. Meanwhile, the booming number of empty-nest elderly stimulates the community nurses to assume the responsibility for their care. All of these bring more difficulties and opportunities for community nurses who are dedicated to the prevention of geriatric cognitive disorders. Methods The authors reviewed the literature related to “empty-nest elderly”, “cognitive function”, “mahjong”, and “Chinese square dance” in the Elsevier, Web of Science (WOS), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Springer and PubMed databases. The study illustrates the utility possibility of an efficient and straightforward method for improving the cognitive function among the elderly in the context of community nursing care in China and even in the rest of the world. Results Mental and physical activity contributes to cognitive fitness and may be beneficial in delaying cognitive decline. Mental activities, such as playing mahjong, and physical activities, such as the Chinese square dance, are common Chinese activities. Both of them can affect cognitive function in some way. Conclusions China is experiencing one of its most severe aging problems. Community health personnel and related professionals may consider using mahjong and Chinese square dance to promote psychological health in empty-nest elderly individuals in the community.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 301-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Hanson ◽  
S. G. Ortman

The last few years have seen a growing interest in the urbanism of the Greek and Roman world. This has led to a consensus of sorts about some of its vital statistics, such as the sizes of the populations of the most important settlements and the size of the overall urban population, the urbanization rate (i.e., the share of individuals that lived in urban, rather than rural, contexts), and the total population. A good example comes from W. Scheidel in the Cambridge economic history of the Greco-Roman world. According to him, it is likely that c.1.5 million people lived in the 5 largest cities of the Greco-Roman world by the 2nd c. A.D. These included Rome, which is usually agreed to have had a population of about 1 million; Alexandria, which might have had c.500,000; Antioch, which could have had at least 150,000; and Carthage and Ephesus (Scheidel does not give explicit figures for those).


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