RELOCATION TRAUMA: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DEPRESSION, MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY (NURSING HOMES).
Contributors: University of Missouri--Kansas City.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 185
Subjects: Psychology, Clinical.; Gerontology.; Education, Health.
Description: As the U.S. population ages, the elderly comprise an even greater proportion of our population. In addition, people are living longer, increasing the probability of moving into a nursing facility. "Relocation trauma" refers to the impact of moving within or between nursing facilities. It has been reported that relocating is a stressful experience with the potential of resulting in an increase in depression, a decline in health and/or an increase in mortality. Perceiving availability of social support has been reported to buffer stress. However, there is a sparsity of empirical evidence linking benefits of social support to the potential negative impact of stress associated with relocating.

A random sample of 60 interviewable residents of a nursing facility participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups; the experimental group received assistance with ensuring the continuance of social support and the control group was not provided with such assistance. Those involved in the experimental condition identified the person they wanted to continue to receive support from, the type of support they valued and the frequency of support they found to be beneficial. These support persons were then asked to provide this support to participants for the month before and after the relocation process.

Data were analyzed utilizing analysis of variance, with Newman Keuls test. Results suggested those with higher perceived social support were less depressed than those with lower levels of perceived social support. Those who received assistance with continued social support were less depressed during and at one month post-relocation than those who did not receive assistance. Participants not receiving assistance maintained an already increased level of depression experienced during the move, by the end of the research period. Those receiving assistance with social support had an increase in perception of social support from both family and friends at one month post-relocation. Those not receiving assistance had a slight decline in level of perceived support from family and a significant decline in perceived support from friends, following relocation. There were no significant differences for health status, sex or age.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-06, Section: B, page: 3313.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - KANSAS CITY, 1991.

School code: 0134.