Depression and social support in the elderly population: a study of rural South African elders.

Western societies tend to believe that poverty increases depression and that social support is very limited. This study was conducted in a rural South African community. Goals of the study were to determine how the elderly perceived social support and to assess their levels of depression. The study indicated that there was no significant difference in the level of depression using two different scales to determine depression. Age did not influence the amount of social support the elderly received from family, friends or the community.