Assisstant Professor, P.G. Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
P.G. Student, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
*Email: prangya.ppdas@sify.com
Online published on 3 January, 2013.
Old age is the stage where almost everyone experiences decline in physical & psychological functioning. It is characterized by losses in almost every domain important for an individual's life. Ageing takes place within a social context. The majority of the elderly depend on their children or grand children for support physical, social, as well as financial. The provision of this support, especially physical support is more practical in a joint family system. One of the common mental disorders seen in elderly population is depression.
The objective of this study was to find out the effect of family structure and gender on old age depression.
Therefore a 2X2 design involving Gender as one factor and Family Setup as the other factor was used. 39 old men and 30 old women within the age bracket of 60–75 yrs were randomly sampled from the village of Nayagarh.
The main effect of Family Setup on old age Depression was found significant. Gender had no significant effect on old age Depression.
Older adults living in nuclear family are more depressed as compared to older adults living in joint family.
Old age, Depression, Joint family system, Nuclear family, Social support
