Effects of Pain, Disability, Social Support and Stress on Depression of community-dwelling Elders

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect that pain, disability, social support, and stress have on depression in elders.

The subjects of this study were 141 elders between 65 or above. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.

With depression, pain had a positive correlation (r=.26, p=.002), disability had a positive correlation (r=.25, p=.002), stress had a positive correlation (r=.47, p<.001), but social support had a negative correlation (r=-.42, p<.001). Depression was set as a dependent variable for a multiple regression analysis. The analysis showed that stress (β=.313, p<.001), social support (β=-.272, p<.001), and economic status (β=.201, p=.007), and health condition (β=-.178, p=.010) had a significant effect on depression in elders. The regression analysis was statistically significant (F=20.74, p<.001).

Nurses that interact with the elderly in the local community must identify the source of stress to develop an intervention program and apply a social support program. By helping subjects check up on their own health condition and practicing health improvement practices, they should encourage the elderly to lead a healthy life. As economic status is a factor affecting depression, programs for depression management need to be developed.