The mediating effect of depression between social capital and cognitive function of the elderly in nursing institutions / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the mechanism of depression between social capital and cognitive function of the elderly in nursing institutions, and provide new ideas for improving the cognitive function of the elderly.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional survey. Using the convenient sampling method to collect the general information questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Social Capital Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) of 218 elderly people from three elderly nursing institutions including Shenyang Health Care Centre, Songpu Nursing Home and Colourful Sunshine City Pension Service Centre in Shenyang from July 2020 to January 2021.Results:A total of 218 questionnaires were distributed and 202 valid questionnaires were recovered. The effective recovery rate was 92.7%. The scores of the cognitive function, depression and social capital of the elderly were (23.60 ± 4.25), (6.38 ± 4.35) and (75.41 ± 8.61). Depression scores were negatively correlated with social capital scores and cognitive function scores ( r = - 0.401, - 0.481, both P<0.05); there was a positive correlation between social capital scores with cognitive function scores ( r = 0.338, P<0.05). There was a mediating effect of depression between social capital and cognitive function, accounting for 42.1%. Conclusions:While improving the cognitive function of the elderly in nursing institutions by improving the level of social capital, it is necessary to pay attention to the mediatingeffect of depression, strengthen the psychological counseling of the elderly, promote mental health, and further reduce the occurrence and development of cognitive decline in the elderly.