OLD AGE PERIOD PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND MORALE

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OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to reviewpub-lished studies about psychologicalcharacteristics of elderly period and morale and inorder to examine the data obtained from this studies.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study wascondu-cted by scanning the relevant publicationsbetween January 1994 - December 2012. For thispurpose; old age, morale, psychology keywordswere scanned via internet access at search enginewhich PubMed, Tur-kish Citation Index and TurkishPsychiatry Index and national and international 26publications were eva-luated related to subject.RESULTS: In the examination result of the aging processin Turkey it is determined to be faster comparedto the other the countries of the world. According tothe data of Turkey Statistical Institute (TSI), the numberof the population of 65 years and over will reach8.6 million people by 2023. This extremely high populationindicates the significance of the issue. Theaging process must be well controlled to the highestlevel in order to maintain the welfare of both theseindividuals and the society. For this purpose, some variablesare important. Morale is a concept that affectsthe physiological and psychological state of the individualduring the period of old age as well. At manystudies conducted in this field state that psychologicalproblems such as mental and moral condition ofindividuals affect their quality of life more than thephysiological problems in old age. Elderly people whohave high levels of morale throughout the old age areless affected by the negative aspects of aging and livea more active and social life. Studies show that thesupport of family and relatives, relations with neighborsand friends, and an active lifestyle support theelderly people in terms of emotional and moral aspects.This factors contribute to physiological and psychologicalcondition of elderly people positively, andaffects areas such as dignity, self-confidence, a senseof work, quality of life, and coping with problems in a positive way.CONCLUSION: In many aspects, includingchrono-logical, biological, psychological and socialaspects, the old age affects individuals, the countryeconomy and social life inevitably. The moralevariable is thou-ght which is an important factoraffecting the elderly.

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Old Age Period , Morale , Psychology

Kocatepe Medical Journal

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Kocatepe Medical Journal