The relationships among depression, physical health impairment, and social support in elderly men and women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences between elderly men and women for depression, physical health impairment, and social support and to examine the relationships among depression, physical health impairment, and social support. Data from a secondary analysis was used. A descriptive design was used with a sample consisting of eighty community dwelling older adults (25 men and 55 women). Questionnaires were given regarding depression, physical health impairment, and social support. Tangible aid and emotional aid were the two dimensions of social support measured. There were no significant differences found between men and women for depression, physical health impairment, or social support. Men showed a positive correlation between economic resource impairment and social resource impairment as well as social resource impairment and depression. Women showed a positive correlation between social resource impairment and physical health impairment, depression and physical health impairment, depression and economic resource impairment, and depression and social resource impairment. The findings in this study have important significance to nursing and further research.