Health Status of Kazaks Minority Aging Group in Iran: a cross-sectional study on their sense of loneliness

Objectives: Loneliness is a mental and debilitating condition that results in metabolic disorders, hypertension, and sadness. In fact, loneliness for the older people is the inability to establish and maintain satisfying relationships with others and is a widespread phenomenon. The study aimed to investigate loneliness in Iranian aging Kazaks and its relationship with their health status. Design: The present study is a descriptive-analytical one that was conducted on 234 Iranian ageing Kazaks in 2020. Data collection tools included demographic and health information questionnaires and (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale, 21-items. The convenience sampling method was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. This study was registered at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and all participants provided the written and verbal consent. Results: the mean score of loneliness was 51.77 (SD = 6.11) and its cut-off point was 44.5. Health index had a significant and inverse relationship with loneliness (P = 0.001, OR = 2.347). Also, living alone, hypertension and gender (OR = 5.034, 4.107 and 4.099, respectively) were the predictors of loneliness. Conclusion: General health, hypertension, and living alone have a significant relationship with loneliness. It is suggested to provide conditions to create communities and sanctuaries appropriate to the culture and customs of the Kazaks ethnic minority in order to keep them active in the community. Keywords: Health Status, Minority Group, Cross-Sectional Studies, Loneliness, Aged.

研究目的：孤独是一种可引发代谢紊乱、高血压及情绪低落的使人衰弱的精神状态。老年群体的孤独感特指无法建立并维持令人满意的人际关系，属于普遍存在的社会现象。本研究旨在调查伊朗哈萨克族老年人的孤独感状况，并分析其与个体健康状态的关联。

研究设计：本研究为描述性分析类研究，于2020年纳入234名伊朗哈萨克族老年人开展研究。数据收集工具包括人口学与健康信息问卷，以及21条目版（加州大学洛杉矶分校，University of California, Los Angeles）孤独量表。本次研究采用便利抽样法采集数据，使用SPSS 26统计软件完成数据分析。本研究已在设拉子医科大学（Shiraz University of Medical Sciences）完成注册，所有参与者均签署了书面及口头知情同意。

研究结果：受试者的孤独感平均得分为51.77（标准差SD=6.11），其截断值为44.5。健康指数与孤独感呈显著负相关（P=0.001，比值比（OR）=2.347）。此外，独居状态、高血压及性别（比值比（OR）分别为5.034、4.107与4.099）均为孤独感的预测因素。

研究结论：总体健康状况、高血压与独居状态均与孤独感存在显著关联。建议结合哈萨克族少数民族的文化习俗，打造适配的社区与庇护场所，助力老年人积极融入社区生活。

关键词：健康状态、少数群体、横断面研究、孤独感、老年人。