ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the mediating effects of resilience between family function and geriatric depression. Methods By convenient sampling, 212 elderly people who were from the communities in Yuexiu, Guangxhou city were analyzed by using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) and Family Concern Index Questionnaire (APGAR) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the self-designed General Condition Questionnaire, and a mediating model was proposed and the impacts of resilience on family function and geriatric depression were tested. Results The incidence rate of depression among the community elderly was 23.6% (50/212), and the average score of APGAR was 7.87 ± 2.83, and the average score of CD-RISC was 83.66 ± 12.88. The scores of GDS-30 showed significantly negative correlation with the scores of APGAR (r=-0.582,P<0.01)and the scores of CD-RISC (r=-0.425, P<0.01), and there was positive correlation between the scores of APGAR and the scores of CD-RISC (r=0.335, P < 0.01). The mediating model had high degree of fitting, and level of path had statistical significance (P < 0.01). Resilience was the mediator between family function and geriatric depression. Family function had direct effects (0.50) on geriatric depression and indirect effects (0.11) through resilience, and the combined effects of family function and resilience determined 45%changing range of geriatric depression. Conclusions Family function was a direct predictor of geriatric depression, and resilience had mediating effects between family function and geriatric depression. Community mental health work should pay enough attention to the effects of family function on the life of the aged, and increased the care to the elderly with family dysfunction, while promote and develop family-centered mental health education, propaganda and psychological guidance, so that improves resilience of the aged and help the aged positively coping and maintain good mental health status.