J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2016 Sep;25(3):195-206. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2016.25.3.195.

A Study on the Experience of Depression in Elderly Women Living Alone

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Nursing, Daewon University, Jecheon.
  • 2College of Nursing, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. happysgmr@mail.daewon.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to explore the experience process for depression in elderly women living alone.
METHODS
Data was analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's Grounded theory. The twelve participants were elderly women living alone, aged 65 to 80 years.
RESULTS
From the participants' statements, 116 concepts, 43 sub-categories and 16 categories were extracted by an open coding process. Core category was 'wandering in a waste land'. The experience process leading to depression in elderly women living alone had 4 phases: loss, emptiness, struggle and response.
CONCLUSION
The findings in this study on the experience of depression in elderly women living alone can be used for evidence in a detailed assessment, early detection and prevention of depression in elderly women living alone.

Keyword

Aged; Women; Depression; Grounded theory

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Clinical Coding
Depression*
Female
Grounded Theory
Humans

Figure

  • Figure 1 Paradigm model of experience of elderly women living-alone with depression.

  • Figure 2 Process of experience of elderly women living-alone with depression.


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