Background: Iranian society is facing the phenomenon of aging and attention to this vulnerable group is necessary. The aim of this study was to assess mental health status and its related factors among elderly people living in nursing homes in Mashhad.
Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted in 2015 on 203 over 60 years old elderly people living in Mashhad nursing homes. Data were collected through a demographic information questionnaire and general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Data analysis was performed through SPSS19 and using Chi-square, Independent t- test, Mann-Whitney and Logistic Regression.
Results: The mean of the GHQ-28 score was 27.24±9.94. Based on the GHQ-28 cut off-point, 130 (%64) of the participants had mental health problems. Mental health had a significant relationship with having chronic diseases (P=0.005), the number of their visitings (P=0.03) and somehow with the number of returnings to home (P=0.05). But, there was no significant relation between mental health score and age, gender, marital status, education, number of children, having an independent income or salary and length of stay in nursing homes (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The elderly people living in nursing homes of Mashhad do not have a good mental health status. Since having chronic diseases, the number of their visitings and returnings to home are the most important determinants of their mental health, their families and health policy makers should pay more attention to these items
