Introduction

Psychosocial problems affecting elderly people have become particularly meaningful not only because of health considerations but also because of their significant social consequences.

Aim of the research

To assess psychosocial problems among elderly people suffering from chronic diseases, according to the PCH-R scale.

Material and methods

The study was conducted in a group of 150 chronic elderly patients following the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. A socio-demographic questionnaire and the PCH-R scale assessing psychosocial problems were applied.

Results

An analysis of eta correlations between the subjects gender and their psychosocial problems showed statistically significant correlations between personality, social, and occupational spheres. The average level of problems within the personality, social, and occupational spheres was statistically significantly higher in women than in men. Gender accounted for 4% of the variance in results in personality, social, and occupational spheres but only 0.4% of the variance in the family sphere. The study showed a statistically significant negative correlation between age and psychosocial problems in all spheres.

Conclusions

Psychosocial problems of older people are influenced by their gender (in personality, family, and occupational spheres women reported a higher intensity of psychosocial problems) and age (in personality, family, social, and occupational spheres the intensity of psychosocial problems decreased with age). Psychosocial problems of elderly people tend to interact with one another.