A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Prevalence and Determinants of Depression among Elderly in selected Old Age Homes of Pathanamthitta District

Abstract

Depression is a significant psychological health concern among elderly population and can adversely affect their physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. This descriptive cross- sectional investigation was carried out to assess the occurrence and associated factors of depression among elderly residents of selected old-age homes in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. A total of 198 older adults aged 60 years and above were recruited through a non-probability convenience sampling method. Information was gathered using a structured socio-demographic survey tool and the PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire. The findings revealed that 54% of the respondents exhibited varying levels of depressive symptoms while 46% had no or minimal depressive symptoms. Among the individuals identified with depression, 29.79% had mild depression, 13.63%nhad moderate depression, 9.09% had moderately severe depression and 1.51% had severe depression. Statistically significant relationships were observed between depression and certain variables such as gender, satisfaction with living conditions, duration of leisure time activities, presence of medical problems, family history of mental illness, smoking and alcohol consumption(p<0.05). The findings suggest that depression is widely prevalent among older adults living in institutional care settings and is influenced by multiple socio-demographic, psychosocial and health-related determinants. The study highlights the importance of regular mental health assessment, early detection of depressive symptoms and implementation of supportive interventions to enhance the psychological wellbeing and quality of life of elderly residents.