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Social Support as a Correlate of Depression and Quality of Life Among Nigerian Older Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study

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Abstract

Reduced social support has been associated with presence of depression and reduced quality of life among older adults. The relationships may be better understood by exploring the interactions of individual domains among the constructs. This cross-sectional survey involved a consecutive sample of 206 (116 females and 90 males) older adults living in a Southern Nigeria community. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Geriatric Depression Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD Questionnaire, were used to measure social support, depression, and quality of life respectively. Data was analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, multiple regression and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient, at 0.05 alpha level. Prevalence rate of depression among participants was 45.5%. Social support was perceived to be low by 37.4% of participants with the lowest mean social support score coming from friends domain. Participants’ quality of life was generally fairly good (> 60%) with the lowest scores coming from the intimacy domain. Significant correlations between social support domains and each of quality of life (p < 0.05) and depression were respectively positive and negative; but weakest for the friend and strongest for significant others domains. All quality of life domains were significantly correlated with social support except the death and dying domain. All the domains of social support (family and significant other) were significant predictors of depression except the friend domain. Significant others around individual older adults particularly those with depression ought to be educated on the importance of their roles. Stakeholders including healthcare providers may create and support programmes for improved social networking for the older adults in order to enhance their general wellbeing and quality of life.

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Data Availability

The data used and/or analyzed during the current study will be made available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the participants for their time, willingness and commitment throughout the data collection processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

    Christopher O. Akosile, Emmanuel C. Okoye & Umezulike K. Ani

  2. Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Ukamaka Gloria Mgbeojedo

  3. Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

    Adesola C. Odole

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

    Richard Uwakwe

  5. Medical Rehabilitation Department, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Ukamaka Gloria Mgbeojedo

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Contributions

Christopher O. Akosile contributed in the conceptualization of this study, data analysis and interpretation, supervision, drafting and revising the manuscript. Ukamaka G. Mgbeojedo contributed in the conceptualization, data acquisition, analysis and interpretation, drafting and revising the manuscript. Emmanuel C. Okoye was involved in writing the original draft, data analysis and interpretation, revising the manuscript. Adesola C. Odole contributed in the conceptualization, data acquisition, drafting and revising the manuscript. Richard Uwakwe took part in the conceptualization, review and editing of the manuscript. Umezulike K. Ani contributed in the conceptualization, data acquisition and analysis, revising the manuscript. All the authors contributed to the development of the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.

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Correspondence to Ukamaka Gloria Mgbeojedo.

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Ethical approval (UUTH/AD/S/96/VOL.XIV/487) was obtained from the Institutional Health Research Ethical Committee of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the administrators of the churches and institutions where the participants were recruited. All participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study and were assured that all data obtained would remain confidential. Participants were volunteers who gave verbal or written informed consent (as applicable depending on the level of literacy), and they were consecutively recruited as they become available.

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Akosile, C.O., Mgbeojedo, U.G., Okoye, E.C. et al. Social Support as a Correlate of Depression and Quality of Life Among Nigerian Older Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study. J Cross Cult Gerontol 39, 173–188 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-024-09506-9

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