Department of Health Science, Nord-Trøndelag University College, Namsos, Norway.
J Clin Nurs. 2012 Jan;21(1-2):111-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03868.x. Epub 2011 Oct 24.
The aim was to investigate the associations between perceived social support and depression in a general population in relation to gender and age.
Social support is seen as one of the social determinants for overall health in the general population. Studies have found higher probability of experiencing depression among people who have a lack of social support; evidence from the general population has been more limited. Subjective perception that support would be available if needed may reduce and prevent depression and unnecessary suffering.
A cross-sectional survey with self-reported health was used.
A total of 40,659 men and women aged 20-89 years living in Nord-Trøndelag County of Norway with valid ratings of depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in the The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 3 were used. Logistic regression was used to quantify associations between two types of perceived support (emotional and tangible) and depression. Gender, age and interaction effects were controlled for in the final model.
The main finding was that self-rated perceived support was significantly associated with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-defined depression, even after controlling for age and gender; emotional support (OR = 3·14) and tangible support (OR = 2·93). The effects of emotional and tangible support differ between genders. Interaction effects were found for age groups and both emotional and tangible support.
Self-rated perceived functional social support is associated with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-defined depression. In the group of older people who have a lack of social support, women seem to need more emotional support and men tangible support.
Health care providers should consider the close association between social support and depression in their continuing care, particularly in the older people.
旨在调查一般人群中感知到的社会支持与抑郁之间的关联，同时考虑到性别和年龄因素。
社会支持被视为一般人群整体健康的社会决定因素之一。已有研究发现，缺乏社会支持的人群更有可能经历抑郁；而来自一般人群的证据则更为有限。如果需要，主观上认为支持是可用的，这可能会减轻和预防抑郁以及不必要的痛苦。
采用横断面调查和自我报告健康状况的方法。
使用挪威特隆赫姆郡年龄在 20-89 岁、参加过特隆赫姆 3 健康研究且汉密尔顿抑郁量表抑郁亚量表评分有效的 40659 名男性和女性。采用逻辑回归来量化两种感知支持（情感支持和有形支持）与抑郁之间的关联。在最终模型中控制了性别、年龄和交互作用的影响。
主要发现是，即使在控制了年龄和性别后，自我评估的感知支持与汉密尔顿抑郁量表定义的抑郁显著相关；情感支持（OR=3.14）和有形支持（OR=2.93）。情感支持和有形支持的作用在性别之间存在差异。还发现了年龄组和情感支持与有形支持之间的交互作用。
自我评估的感知功能社会支持与汉密尔顿抑郁量表定义的抑郁相关。在缺乏社会支持的老年人群体中，女性似乎需要更多的情感支持，而男性则需要更多的有形支持。
医疗保健提供者在进行持续护理时，应考虑到社会支持与抑郁之间的密切关联，特别是在老年人中。
