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Social relationships as predictors of depression and suicidal ideation in older adults
Author(s)R K Vanderhorst, S McLaren
Journal titleAging & Mental Health, vol 9, no 6, November 2005
Pagespp 517-525
Sourcehttp://www.tandfonline.com
KeywordsSocial contacts ; Depression ; Suicide ; Evaluation ; Correlation ; Australia.
AnnotationThe prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation in older people is considered to be a major mental health concern in this age group. This study investigated the human relatedness variables of marital status, social support resources and sense of belonging as predictors of depression and suicidal ideation in older people. A community sample of 119 older people (mean age 76.67 years) in the state of Victoria, Australia completed the Social Support Sub-scale of the Coping Resources Inventory, the Sense of Belonging Instrument, the Zung Depression Inventory ad the Suicide Sub-scale of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Results indicated that lower social support resources were associated with higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation. Sense of belonging to the community was not an additional predictor of mental health. The results of this study suggest that enhancing social support resources in older people could reduce depression and suicidal ideation. (RH).
Accession NumberCPA-060202238 A
ClassmarkTOA: ENR: EV: 4C: 49: 7YA

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