ABSTRACT
This study was conducted as a part of a larger study to create a database to describe elderly respondents residing in a rural South African community. The participants reported on their perceptions of social support, satisfaction, and illness in relationship to depression. There was a correlation between social support and satisfaction (r = .048502, p = .0001). Depression was not found to be a significant health problem in this elderly population. However, there were correlations between hypertension and depression noted (r = .57901, p = .0001).
Subject(s)
Aged/psychology , Attitude to Health , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Health Status , Personal Satisfaction , Rural Health , Aged, 80 and over , Depression/complications , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Hypertension/complications , Hypertension/epidemiology , Hypertension/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Morbidity , Pensions , Residence Characteristics , Social Support , South Africa/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Western societies tend to believe that poverty increases depression and that social support is very limited. This study was conducted in a rural South African community. Goals of the study were to determine how the elderly perceived social support and to assess their levels of depression. The study indicated that there was no significant difference in the level of depression using two different scales to determine depression. Age did not influence the amount of social support the elderly received from family, friends or the community.
Subject(s)
Aged/psychology , Depression/psychology , Rural Health , Social Support , Age Distribution , Age Factors , Aged, 80 and over , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/prevention & control , Female , Geriatric Assessment , Geriatric Nursing/education , Health Surveys , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Needs Assessment , Poverty/psychology , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , South Africa/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A descriptive survey of 201 senior citizens, 55 years or older was conducted June 2001, using face-to-face interviews to establish a database. Structured tools were used to measure self appraisal of family stress, perceived social support, caregiver satisfaction and psychological health of family members and of themselves. Even though the senior citizens had survived past the estimated life expectancy, the quality of life has not improved significantly in the post-apartheid period.
