Factors Influencing Depression in Elderly People Living at Home

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the factors which influence depression for elderly people who live at home. METHODS: The participants were 134 elderly people living at home in M city. Data were collected from April 2 to 30, 2009 and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0 and AMOS 5.0 program. I assumed path coefficients by doing path analysis to understand synthetically causal relationship which influences on depression. RESULTS: Social support, sleep pattern and self esteem had significant direct effects on life satisfaction and accounted for 50% of the total variance in life satisfaction. Physical symptoms, sleep pattern and life satisfaction also had significant direct effects on depression and accounted for 59% of the variance in depression. But social support, self assertiveness and self esteem were not significant for depression. CONCLUSION: These results provide guidance for designing useful strategies to reduce depression in elderly people living at home.