A correlation between quality of life and depression in elderly persons

• Author: D. Lebada/L. T. David
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania/Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania
• Pages: 33-38

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 11 (60) No. 1 - 2018

A CORRELATION BETWEEN QUALITY OF LIFE AND

DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY PERSONS

D. LEBĂDĂ1 L. T. DAVID2

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to find out if there is a relationship

between quality of life and depression in elderly persons. This research also

includes variables such as spirituality and the purpose of life. The objectives

of the study involve exploring the associations between depression,

spirituality, the purpose of life and the quality of life at an advanced age.

Participants are 28 subjects, aged (65 to 97 with a mean age of 85.6 years)

all residents of an elder people establishment. Participants are

predominantly female. To test the hypotheses, we used 4 questionnaires,

namely: Geriatric depression scale (Yesavage, et al, 1983), Quality of life

(Flangan, 1970), The purpose of life test (Frankl, 1959) and a test that merge

two questionnaires (Personal Value Scale, Scott, 1965 and Spirituality Index

of Well-Being, Daaleman, & Frey, 2004). The results showed statistically

significant data confirmed by the literature as well, with depression being

negative correlated with quality of life, spirituality and purpose of life, while

quality of life is positive correlated with spirituality and purpose in life.

Implications and limits of the research are also discussed.

Key words: elderly persons, quality of life, depression, purpose of life,

spirituality.

1. Introduction

Aging has sparked interest from various fields’ specialists from medicine to

psychology, sociology and even economics. Aging seen as a set of physical,

psychological, and social changes means not only providing measures for a medical or

social insurance but includes measures for integration of elderly people in social

activities and giving attention to their psychological features.

The changes in mental processes in old age largely depend on individual

characteristics. It was also found that all physical and physiological changes have a

strong psychological echo and determine most often feelings of helplessness, sadness in

relation with awareness of physical weakness and approaching death ( Fontaine, 2008;

Crețu, 2009; Birch, 2010).

Regarding aging, considered as the last period of life, literature outlines several

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, Romania

2 Transilvania University of Braşov, Romania, lauradavid@unitbv.ro