Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the single elder veterans’ depression,loneliness, social support and its related factors. A total of 398 single elder veterans living in veterans home of Taipei area were purposive sampled and interviewed by the researcher.
The average age of the subjects is 77 years old. the following results were achieved：（1）Using Geriatric Depression Scale（GDS）to assess depressive symptoms among subjects, the mean score was 11.6（SD=6.21;） using Revised University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale（RULS-V3）to assess loneliness among subjects, the mean score was 45.8（SD=9.3;） using Personal Resource Questionnaire（PRQ）to assess social support among subjects, the mean score was 75.9（SD=19.2.）（2）A higher level of loneliness was significantly associated with retired military, without any religious preference and the number of chronic health problems；a lower level of loneliness was significantly associated with retired years, living in veterans home''s years. （3）A higher level of perceived social support was significantly associated with the number of chronic health problems; a lower level of perceived social support was
significantly associated with living in veterans home''s years. （4）Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only three factors were the predictors of depression: retired years（OR=0.95、p＜0.001）, the number of chronic health problems（OR=2.44、p＜0.001）and loneliness（OR=1.15、p＜0.001）.
The results of this study provided information for understanding depressive symptoms,loneliness and social support of single elder veterans. The data could be used to establish the database for mental health to promote mental health of the single elder
veterans. The findings could also provide the information for teaching materials and future studies investigations.
The average age of the subjects is 77 years old. the following results were achieved：（1）Using Geriatric Depression Scale（GDS）to assess depressive symptoms among subjects, the mean score was 11.6（SD=6.21;） using Revised University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale（RULS-V3）to assess loneliness among subjects, the mean score was 45.8（SD=9.3;） using Personal Resource Questionnaire（PRQ）to assess social support among subjects, the mean score was 75.9（SD=19.2.）（2）A higher level of loneliness was significantly associated with retired military, without any religious preference and the number of chronic health problems；a lower level of loneliness was significantly associated with retired years, living in veterans home''s years. （3）A higher level of perceived social support was significantly associated with the number of chronic health problems; a lower level of perceived social support was
significantly associated with living in veterans home''s years. （4）Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only three factors were the predictors of depression: retired years（OR=0.95、p＜0.001）, the number of chronic health problems（OR=2.44、p＜0.001）and loneliness（OR=1.15、p＜0.001）.
The results of this study provided information for understanding depressive symptoms,loneliness and social support of single elder veterans. The data could be used to establish the database for mental health to promote mental health of the single elder
veterans. The findings could also provide the information for teaching materials and future studies investigations.
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 38-50 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | 榮總護理 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
