J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  2008 Dec;20(6):866-882.

Health Status, Depression and Social Support of Elderly Beneficiaries of the National Basic Livelihood Security System

• Kang JH
• Kim JA
• Oh K
• Oh KO
• Lee SO
• Lee SJ
• Jun HY
• Kim HR

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was: 1) To investigate health status(health behavior, health problem and cognition), depression and social support of elderly beneficiaries of the National Basic Livelihood Security System. 2) To identify the relationships among health status, depression and social support.
METHODS
This descriptive study used a cross-sectional design. The study sample was a total of 883 elderly recipients supported from the National Basic Livelihood Security System. Quotas for sampling were designed and conducted nationwide throughout Korea.
RESULTS
The mean age was 76.2 and the 79.6% of the sample were female. The scores for the health behavior, health problem, ADL, and cognition were 23.9, 4.4, 39.6 and 24.9, respectively. Additionally, the depression score was 19.8 and the social support score was 63.2. Gender, age, education, religion, marital status and monthly income were found as important variables in increasing health status and in decreasing depression among the elderly. Furthermore, depression showed a positive correlation with health problems, but showed negative correlations with health behavior, ADL, and cognition. The upper 25% of social support recipients suffered less depression than the lower 25% of the recipients. Subjects with more social supports had higher ADL scores and less health problem.
CONCLUSION
These findings provide significant practical implications for nursing intervention, including social support for the elderly receiving assistance from the National Basic Livelihood Security System.

Keyword

Health status; Depression; Social support

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Cognition
Depression
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Marital Status