Effects of Social Support and Chronic Medical Conditions on Depressive Symptoms in Elderly People Living Alone in a Rural Community

농촌지역 독거노인의 사회적 지지 및 만성 의학적 질환이 우울증상에 미치는 영향

  • Chae, Cholho (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sangsoo (Department of Psychiatry, Ahav Hospital) ;
  • Park, Chul-Soo (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Bong-Jo (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Cheol-Soon (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, So-Jin (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Dongyun (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital) ;
  • Seo, Ji-Yeong (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital) ;
  • Ahn, In-Young (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Jae-Won (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital) ;
  • Cha, Boseok (Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital)
  • 채철호 (경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 이상수 (아하브병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 박철수 (경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 김봉조 (경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 이철순 (경상대학교 의과대학 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 이소진 (경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 이동윤 (창원경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 서지영 (창원경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 안인영 (창원경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 최재원 (경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과) ;
  • 차보석 (경상대학교병원 정신건강의학과)
  • Received : 2018.06.19
  • Accepted : 2018.08.07
  • Published : 2018.10.31

Abstract

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of social support and chronic medical conditions on depressive symptoms in elderly people living alone in a rural community. Methods : Sociodemographic information on 173 subjects aged 65 years or older who lived alone in a rural community and were recipients of National Basic Livelihood Security was collected and analyzed. All participants completed the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Additionally, the current prevalence of chronic medical conditions that interfere with the activities of daily living was examined. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations of social support and chronic medical conditions with depressive symptoms. Results : Social support(odds ratio: OR, 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 95% CI, 0.92-0.99) and chronic medical conditions(OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.23-2.05) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in all subjects. When analyzed by gender, social support served as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in elderly men only(OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99), and chronic medical conditions increased the risk of depressive symptoms in elderly women only(OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.26-2.40). Furthermore, osteoarthritis and lumbar pain were risk factors for depressive symptoms in all subjects(OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.10-4.56 and OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08-4.12) and in elderly women(OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.68-9.84 and OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.47-7.57), respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that improving the social support and managing the chronic medical conditions of elderly people living alone are important for the prevention of depression in this population. Additionally, the present results suggest that it is necessary to establish different depression-prevention strategies for elderly men and women living alone.

Keywords

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