FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION IN THE OLDER ADULTS IN OBOWO COMMUNITY, IMO STATE
Abstract
Depression is a major public health concern among older adults, particularly in low-resource communities where healthcare access and social support are limited. This study assessed the factors associated with depression among older adults in Obowo Community, Imo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed, and data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire administered to 180 older adults aged 55 years and above. Respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage. The study examined four key domains---socio-demographic characteristics, risk factors of depression, implications of depression, and coping strategies among older adults. The results revealed that most respondents were female (58.9%) and within the age range of 61--65 years (31.7%), while the majority were married (83.9%) and Christians (90%). Findings from the analysis showed that major risk factors associated with depression included comorbid medical conditions (77.2%), stressful life events such as bereavement and caregiving (75.6%), and poor quality of life (71.1%). Depression was also shown to significantly affect respondents' mental and physical well-being, with over three-quarters reporting poor daily functioning, social and behavioral problems, insomnia, and physiological symptoms. Regarding coping strategies, most respondents relied on lifestyle changes (70%) and psychological treatments (53.9%), while fewer adopted cognitive or interpersonal therapies or used antidepressant medications. Based on these findings, it was recommended that nurses and healthcare professionals integrate routine depression screening into geriatric care and provide community-based mental health education to promote early detection and intervention. The study concluded that depression among older adults in Obowo community is multifactorial, largely influenced by chronic illness, social isolation, and life stressors, and can be effectively mitigated through integrated nursing interventions and community empowerment strategies.
Keywords: Factors, Depression, Older Adults, Risk Factors, Coping Strategie
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.