The relationship between social support and levels of depression amongst older adults admitted at a long stay mental health institution in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the major causes of a decline in the Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) of older adults worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, older adults are progressively facing challenges of reduced support from their adult children and their care ends up in the hands of their relatives. However the effects of these challenges on their mental health is largely unknown.

Objective: To explore the relationship between social support and levels of depression among the older adults admitted at Ingutsheni Hospital, in Zimbabwe.

Materials and Methods: This wasa cross sectional study. Systematic random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 80 consenting older adults, 60 years and more, who had been admitted for a year and above. Those with evident psychiatric symptoms were excluded from the study. Structured face to face interviews were conducted using the Level of Depression, Social Support and Sociodemographic Data Questionnaires. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with the aid of a statistician.

Results: Eighty older adults both male (50%) and female (50%) with a mean age of 69 (SD 7.558) participated in the study.Fifty two (65%) had low social support whilst thirty nine (48.8%) had severe 2 depression. Regression analysis showed a positive effect of social support on depression (r = .31, p= .001).

Conclusion: Social Support inversely correlates to levels of depression amongst the older adults admitted into a long stay mental health institution in Zimbabwe. The social support network of each older adult should therefore be explored on admission and the mental health professionals need to be in constant contact with the client's family in order to promote social support interventions and prevent depression.