A Comparison of Rural and Urban Older Adults in Iowa on Specific Markers of Successful Aging
A Comparison of Rural and Urban Older Adults in Iowa on Specific Markers of Successful Aging
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DOI：
10.1080/01634370802609197
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发表时间：
2009-01-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Evans, Ronnie J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Evans, Ronnie J.
本研究考察了农村和城市老年人在生活满意度和抑郁症状方面的差异，重点考察了社会支持的作用。数据是通过在爱荷华州东部和东南部的老年中心和老年就餐地点进行结构化采访收集的。采用杜克社会支持指数(DSSI)、生活满意度指数Z(LSI-Z)和老年抑郁量表(GDS-15)。计算相关系数(皮尔逊相关系数)、独立样本t检验和多元回归。研究结果表明，与农村居民相比，城市居民报告的抑郁症状更多。主观社会支持水平是生活满意度的较强预测因子，与城市老年人相比，农村老年人的抑郁症状与主观支持水平的负相关程度更高。结果表明，与老年人打交道的社会工作者需要意识到城乡心理健康的差异。此外，社会工作者需要了解老年人的社交网络，并努力确保有更多的社交机会。
This study examines the differences between rural and urban older adults on level of life satisfaction and depressive symptoms, focusing on the effect of social support. Data were collected through structured interviews at senior centers and senior meal sites in eastern and southeastern Iowa. The Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), the Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSI-Z), and the Geriatric Depression Scale 15 (GDS15) were used. Correlations (Pearson's r), independent sample t-tests, and multiple regression were computed. Findings indicated that urban residents reported more depressive symptoms, as compared to rural residents. Subjective level of social support was a stronger predictor of life satisfaction and was more negatively related to depressive symptoms among rural than among urban older adults. Results suggest that social workers who work with aging people need to be aware of rural-urban differences in mental health. Furthermore, social workers need to have knowledge of older adults' social networks and work to ensure greater opportunity for social interaction.