Social support status and its relationship with depression for elderly university students

Objective To explore the status of social support and its relationship with depression in elderly university students. Methods 159 students aged 55 to 79 years of Nanning elderly university were selected using cluster sampling methods. They were surveyed by Social Support Rating Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale. Results ①The total score of social support(40.92±7.63) was higher than that of the national norm(34.56±3.73 )(t=10.515, P<0.01), and score of social support, subjective support, utilization of support were higher than those of the elderly in Beijing Xicheng district community that was mental health guidance demonstration area in national community (t=2.064, 2.017, 9.222; P<0.05). ②Social support score and each dimension score of having a spouse group were higher than those of no spouse group (t=5.78, 4.956, 4.918, 3.175; P<0.01). ③The positive rate of depression in the sample group was 26.8%. Social support score, objective support score, subjective support score of depression in positive group(37.43±7.41, 21.43±4.93, 7.67±2.37) were lower than those of negative group(42.17±7.35, 24.43±4.22, 8.78±2.83, t=3.585, 2.277, 3.776; P<0.05). ④Social support, objective support, subjective support and depression were negatively correlated (r=-0.296, -0.194, -0.307; P<0.01). Conclusion Elderly university student's overall level of social support are higher, and social support is negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Key words: Elderly university students; Social support; Depression