J Agric Med Community Health.  2016 Dec;41(4):195-204. 10.5393/JAMCH.2016.41.4.195.

The Association between Hopelessness, Social Support and Community Integration and Depression among Elderly Living Alone

• Kim HO
• Choi YS
• Lee JH
• Seo AR
• Park KS

• KMID: 2368940
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2016.41.4.195

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was performed to investigate the association between hopelessness, social support and community integration, and depression.
METHODS
We analyzed data from a questionnaire administered to subjects aged 65 years or older living alone for a 2015 community mental health project in Gyeongnam S city. We used a correlation analysis and a hierarchical regression analysis to identify factors that affect depression.
RESULTS
When controlling for socio-demographic factors, hopelessness and community integration had significant effects on depression. That is, the higher the hopelessness (B=0.768, p<.001) and the lower the community integration (B=-0.163, p=.012), the higher the depression in elderly living alone .
CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for approaches at both the individual and social levels that consider and improve measures to prevent and reduce depression. Moreover, it is especially necessary to enhance community integration.

Keyword

Community Integration; Depression; Hopelessness; Social Support

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Community Integration*
Depression*
Humans
Mental Health