J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  2010 Oct;22(5):519-528.

Sense of Control, Social Support, Depression, and Adjustment of Nursing Home Residents

• Chang AK
• Park YH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to examine the relationships among the sense of control, social support, depression and nursing home adjustment, and to identify the influencing factors of nursing home adjustment in nursing home residents.
METHODS
The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from May to June of 2010 using structured questionnaires from 212 elderly residents without dementia from 15 nursing homes.
RESULTS
The levels of nursing home adjustment depended on the self-rated health, the voluntary institutionalization, and the length of stay. The nursing home adjustment was significantly correlated with a sense of control, social support and depression. The five most influential factors affecting adjustment were self-rated health, placement decision maker, the length of stay, a sense of control and depression, which explained about 51.5% of the variances.
CONCLUSION
The findings reflect the importance of voluntary institutionalization, a sense of control, avoiding depressive mood and social support which facilitate residents' adjustment. These results can provide guidance for nursing interventions to facilitate nursing home adjustment.

Keyword

Nursing home; Aged; Adjustment; Social support; Depression

MeSH Terms

Aged
Dementia
Depression
Humans
Institutionalization
Length of Stay
Nursing Homes
Social Control, Formal
Surveys and Questionnaires