ASSESSING DEPRESSION AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN SELECTED RURAL AREAS
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Keywords
Depression, Elderly, Mental health, Rural areas, Aging population
Abstract
Background: Depression is a major mental health challenge among the elderly, often underdiagnosed and undertreated. It significantly affects the quality of life, leading to disability and increased morbidity.
Objective: To assess the level of depression among older adults in selected rural areas.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 25 elderly participants using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the data, and the association between sociodemographic factors and depression levels was tested using the chi-square test at a 0.05 significance level.
Results: Findings revealed that 16 (64%) participants experienced severe depression, while 9 (36%) had moderate depression. None of the participants exhibited mild or no depression. Sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, education, occupation, and income source showed no significant association with depression levels (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of depression among elderly individuals in rural communities. Routine mental health screening and community-based counselling interventions are essential to improve the psychological well-being of this vulnerable population.
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Mr. Mallikarjun Neperi
Ph.D. Scholar, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Dr. Pallawee Sheoran
Professor, Parul Institute of Nursing, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat