Background and Objective:
The importance of psychological support for patients and families is
indisputable. This study examined anxiety and its associated personal and
social factors in family members of patients in Tehran.   Materials and Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted on family members of patients
hospitalized in the intensive care unit. The standard STAI questionnaire was
used to measure anxiety. Based on anxiety scores, participants were divided
into two groups of more anxious and less anxious. The following items were
studied: patient and his/her family member’s age and sex, marital status,
occupational and educational and economical status of family member, cause and
duration of hospitalization in intensive care unit, and previous experience of
attendance of family member in intensive care unit. The collected data was
analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression models.  Results: A total number of
80 people with a mean age of 40.99 (±8.89) were involved in the study. Their
mean anxiety score was 110.05 ± 17.81 there were 53 persons (66.2%) and 27
persons (33.8%) in two groups of more anxious and less anxious, respectively. It was found out that the two factors age of family member
and being single are associated with the chance of being in more anxious group.   Conclusion: Based
on the observed association between anxiety and family members’ age and marital
status, it is suggested that older and married members of the family provide
support for patients.