The link between cognitive state and general self-esteem among institutionalized elderly persons: can health condition serve as a mediating factor?

• Autor(a) principal: Imaginário,Cristina
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Rocha,Magda, Machado,Paulo Puga, Antunes,Cristina, Martins,Teresa
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1809-98232018000400456
• topic: Health Status; Cognition; Health of Institutionalized Elderly; Self-Esteem

Abstract Objective: to assess whether the health condition of an elderly person can serve as a mediating factor between the cognitive state and general self-esteem of the institutionalized elderly. Method: a quantitative, cross-sectional correlational study was performed, based on the path analysis technique.The following instruments were used for data collection: the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment, the Mini Nutritional Evaluation and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: the sample was composed of 312 elderly patients of both genders (112 men and 200 women), with an average age of 83.39 (+7.09) years. Most of the elderly persons were widowed, with a low educational level, and had been institutionalized in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly for on average 54.6 (+51.69) months. The mediating factor of health condition renders the link between the cognitive state and self-esteem of the elderly null. However, the analysis of the decomposition of the effects showed a significant indirect effect between the cognitive state and health condition. The total effect of cognitive state on the health condition of the elderly is significant, positive and direct. Conclusion: based on the results of this study we maintain that cognitive changes can affect the nutritional state and physical balance of the institutionalized elderly.