Depression and Socio-Demographic Characteristics Associated with Quality of Life in the Community-Dwelling Elderly Living Alone

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study is to suggest the plans for improving the quality of lives of the solitary old people by evaluating the effects of depression, social supports, and activity of daily living to the quality of life. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 329 elderly people who lived alone in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Korea. They were recruited and underwent the questionnaire including their sociodemographic data, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL/IADL) and the Korean version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K). Statistical analyses including Pearson's correlation test, multiple regression were performed in this study. RESULTS: They were composed of 83.6% females and 16.4% males and almost age was between 70 and 84 years old. House welfare availability (p<0.05), subjective economic status (p<0.05), and SGDS-K score (p<0.01) had a negative correlation with Quality of life. Multiple regression analysis revealed that Quality of life correlates to SGDS-K score (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The quality of life of elderly living alone was related with depression. Early detection and management for depression may need to be considered for quality of life of community dwelling elderly living alone.