Journal Article

Understanding ageing: fear of chronic diseases later in life

Nai Peng, Tey, Mansor, Norma, Awang, Halimah, Nik Osman, Nik Ainoon

2018

Overview

Objectives Ageing is often associated with deteriorating mental and physical health and the need for long-term care, creating a fear of ageing. We investigated what people fear most in terms of disabling chronic diseases and their concerns regarding having long-term illnesses. Methods Data were obtained from an online survey of 518 respondents aged 40 years and older residing in Malaysia, which was based on a convenience sample collected in May 2015 to January 2016. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression. Results Of the most dreaded diseases, heart disease and cancer are life-threatening; however, dementia, diabetes, and hypertension persist and have a disabling effect for a long time. While there were variations in the diseases feared most across sex, ethnicity, and place of residence, the biggest worry for all respondents with regard to having a long-term illness was that they would become a burden to their family, a concern that superseded fear of dying. Conclusions We found our survey respondents had a fear of chronic diseases and placing a burden on others. Thus, there is a need to provide motivation for people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to remain healthy.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Sage Publications Ltd,SAGE Publishing
• Subject: Aged / Aging / Aging - psychology / Anticipation, Psychological / Anxiety - psychology / Chronic Disease / Chronic illnesses / Dementia - physiopathology / Dementia - psychology / Diabetes Mellitus - physiopathology / Diabetes Mellitus - psychology / Fear - psychology / Female / Heart Diseases - physiopathology / Heart Diseases - psychology / Humans / Hypertension - physiopathology / Hypertension - psychology / Malaysia / Male / Neoplasms - physiopathology / Neoplasms - psychology / Polls & surveys / Research Report / Surveys and Questionnaires