Assess Stress and Coping Strategies among Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Retired Senior Citizens

Objectives- Stress is a pervading phenomenon in life. Any event in life that a person finds threatening, difficult to cope with or causes excess pressure can be potential cause of stress. Retirement is one of the most important life events many of us will ever experience. This study aimed at comparing the stress and coping strategies among institutionalized and non-institutionalized retired senior citizens. Material and Methods In the present study Quantitative approach with Non-experimental, comparative survey design was used.60 retired male senior citizens (30 institutionalized and 30 non-institutionalized) were selected as a sample through purposive sampling technique from selected area of Lucknow. Level of stress was assessed by Perceived stress Scale and coping strategies by Brief Cope scale. The study assumed that these is a significant difference between stress and coping strategies among institutionalized and non- institutionalized retired senior citizens. Results The result revealed that maximum number of retired senior citizens (24.10+6.093 residing in old age home had higher stress as compare to the retied senior citizens (19.30+5.796) residing in non-institutionalized area, and maximum number of non-institutionalized senior citizens are using higher coping strategies (63.20+4.701) as compare to the residing in institutionalized home (60.73+5.2.1). Chi square was applied to assess the association of stress and coping strategies with selected sociodemographic variables (such as age, marital status, religion, educational status, prior occupation, present source of income, present monthly income (in rupees), duration after retire living with, number of children and present life style). Conclusion The investigator observed that the stress and coping strategies of the groups are found to be statistically different. There was statistical significant association with demographic variables of the stress and coping strategies.