A study to compare the level of Depression among elderly men and women in old age home.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.558Keywords:
Assess, Depression , elderly people, Old age homeAbstract
Depression in old age is an emerging public health issue, contributing significantly to morbidity and disability worldwide. This concern is particularly prominent in the geriatric population. With the growing trend of old age homes in India, the present study was conducted to evaluate and compare levels of depression among elderly men and women residing in old age homes, and to suggest preventive or remedial measures.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were:
- To assess the level of depression among elderly men and women residing in old age homes.
- To compare depression levels between elderly men and women.
- To determine the association between depression and selected sociodemographic variables among the elderly in old age homes.
Methods:
A non-experimental descriptive research design was adopted for this study titled "A study to compare the level of depression among elderly men and women in old age homes." A total of 50 elderly residents from selected old age homes were chosen using non-probability purposive sampling.
Results:
Among elderly women, 48% had moderate depression, 32% had mild depression, and 20% had severe depression. Among elderly men, 40% had moderate depression, 36% had mild depression, and 24% had severe depression. The mean depression scores were 8.16 for women and 7.64 for men. A paired t-test yielded a value of 8.74, which was statistically significant at the 0.05 level. There was a significant association between depression levels and sociodemographic variables such as age, religion, marital status, type of family, whether the individual had their own family, work profile before admission, reason for admission, and duration of stay in the old age home.
Conclusion:
The study concludes that a higher percentage of elderly women in old age homes experience moderate levels of depression compared to men. These findings emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions and support systems tailored to the elderly, particularly women, in institutional settings.
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