Factors Affecting Depression in Elderly Vulnerable People Living Alone

Article information

Res Community Public Health Nurs. 2011;22(4):355-364

Publication date (electronic) : 2014 April 04

doi : https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2011.22.4.355

¹Professor, Department of Nursing, Taegu Science University, Korea.

²Professor, College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Choi, Yeon Hee, College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, 101 Dongin-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu 700-422, Korea. Tel: 82-53-420-4926, Fax: 82-53-421-2758, yeonhee@knu.ac.kr

Received 2011 August 30; Revised 2011 November 30; Accepted 2011 December 05.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that influenced depression of the elderly vulnerable people living alone in the public home visiting health service center.

Methods

The participants for this study were 491 Korean elderly men living in G city. Data were collected from February to July, 2011 using structured questionnaires. χ²-test, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN program were used to analyze the data.

Results

The levels of ADL and IADL of the elderly living alone were higher, and the levels of social support and life satisfaction were lower than the normal elderly. Depression was positively related to ADL and IADL and negatively to social support and life satisfaction in the elderly living alone. In addition, age, fall experience, ADL, IADL and life satisfaction had influence on the depression.

Conclusion

The elderly living alone are in a more serious health status, especially in depression than the normal elderly. It is necessary to develop depression controlling intervention programs in order to promote healthy lifestyles for the elderly vulnerable people living alone.

Keywords: Elderly; Depression

Notes

This work was supported by Taegu Science College Competency Upgrade Research Grant of 2011.

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Funded by : Taegu Science College Competency Upgrade

Table 1

General Characteristics

^*p<.05, ^**p<.01, ^***p<.001.

Table 2

Difference of Physical, Psychological, Social Variables according to Depression (N=491)

^*p<.05, ^**p<.01, ^***p<.001.

ADL=activities of daily living, IADL=instrumental activities of daily living.

Table 3

Correlations of related Variables with Depression (N=343)

^*p<.05, ^**p<.01, ^***p<.001.

Table 4

Factors Affecting Depression (N=343)

Note. Dummy variables=gender (0: male, 1: female); age (0: 65~74 year, 1: 75~84 year, 2: ≥85 year); religion (0: not have, 1: have); education (0: none, 1: elementary school, 2: middle school); fall experience (0: have, 1: not have); volunteer service (0: have, 1: not have); visiting health service (0: <12 month, 1: 12~<24 month, 2: ≥24 month); ADL=activities of daily living; IADL=instrumental activities of daily living.

^*p<.05, ^**p<.01, ^***p<.001.