Relationship Between Family Support and Depression Levels in the Elderly in Dukuh Sumberjo, Ringinagung Village, Magetan District, Magetan Regency
By : Khusnul Arismawati
The elderly are vulnerable to health problems, including depression, which can be triggered by decreased physical function, loneliness, loss of a partner, and lack of social support. Family support plays a crucial role in helping the elderly cope with the changes of old age. This study aims to determine the relationship between family support and depression levels in the elderly in Dukuh Sumberjo,Ringinagung Village, Magetan District, Magetan Regency.
The research design used was quantitative with a cross sectional approach. The sample size was 50 elderly respondents selected through purposive sampling technique. Data collection was conducted using the Family Support Scale (FSS) questionnaire to measure family support and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)to measure the level of depression. The results showed that most elderly people with
poor family support experienced severe depression (75%), while elderly people who received good family support tended to have milder levels of depression. The results of the chi-square test showed a significant relationship between family support and the level of depression in the elderly (p-value = 0.00 <α = 0.05).
The conclusion of this study is that family support plays an important role in reducing the level of depression in the elderly. Therefore, families are expected to provide emotional, social, and practical attention and support continuously to improve the mental well-being of the elderly.
Keywords: Depression, Family Support, Elderly, Elderly Posyandu