Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics (Jan 2023)

Social isolation and depression and its predictors among elderly of the urban field practice area of a medical college: A community-based cross-sectional study

  • Naila N Sayed,
  • Nandkumar Manikrao Salunke,
  • Malangori Abdulgani Parande,
  • Muralidhar P Tambe,
  • Vishvamohini Dinkar Bugade,
  • Pradip S Borle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/jiag.jiag_52_23
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 4
pp. 232 – 238

Abstract

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Background: The elderly population in India has been increasing rapidly. It has become crucial to the public health systems in India to meet the changing needs of this ever-growing population such as medical, psychological and social problems, mobility disorders, falls, incontinence, pressure ulcers, dementia, and delirium. Aim: This study aims to study the social isolation and depression and its predictors among the elderly population of the urban field practice area of a medical college. Objectives: (1) To estimate the prevalence of social isolation and depression among the elderly. (2) To study the predictors of social isolation and depression. (3) To find out the association between social isolation and depression. Settings and Design: The community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 elderly population from the urban field practice area of medical college. Subjects and Methods: The Lubben Social Network Scale – having 6 items and Geriatric Depression Scale – having 15 items were used to assess social isolation and depression. Statistical Analysis: Data were entered into MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: This study showed the prevalence of social isolation was 62.8%, depression was 43.9% among elderly and having mild depression (18.9%), moderate depression (13.9%), and severe depression (11.1%). The predictors for social isolation and depression were living status and education status. Conclusions: The study revealed that the majority of the elderly were socially isolated and depressed. Screening of elderly for social isolation should be done. Living status and education status were found to be the predictors of social isolation and depression. In addition, being socially isolated can lead to depression.

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