Soberano Julienne Ivan D, Siongco Kathryn Lizbeth, Kabristante Eduardo Ii A, Leyva Erwin William A, Evangelista Lorraine S
University of the Philippines College of Nursing, Saint Paul University Philippines, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing.
Int Forum Nurs Healthc. 2021 Aug;5:68-72.
The Philippines is transitioning into an aging population. This results in problems associated with the mental health of older people. However, despite studies of depression in later life, there has been limited literature on the experience of those from rural communities in low and middle-income countries. This study examines depression, stress and stress relief measures used, and living arrangements of older adults (≥ 60 years) living in rural areas in the Philippines and compares depressed older adults from those that are not depressed. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed using interviewer-assisted surveys. Convenience sampling was conducted to obtain data from 410 older people seeking care at rural health clinics across the Philippines. Data were analyzed through frequencies and chi-squares. Those who were depressed accounted for 11.5% of the respondents, while 77.1% reported some level of stress. Their stress relief measures included eating regularly (82.9%), exercise (64.6%), praying (62%), hanging out with friends and family (22%), and getting massages (7.3%). Around a third of respondents lived alone. For overall life stress, those who were not depressed reported that their lives were somewhat stressful, significantly higher than their depressed counterparts. Respondents who answered that work and money were their causes of stress showed significant differences compared to those who experienced no work or money-related stress. For stress relief measures, those who performed exercise and identified hanging out with friends and family as measures to maintain good wellbeing were significantly less likely to report depression. There were no differences among those living alone or older adults living with either adults, children, or both. Depression is an area of concern for community-dwelling older people in rural municipalities. The results of our study suggest the need to develop primary care services such as depression screening, health education and promoting healthy lifestyles, spirituality, stress management, and creating activities that will promote social interaction and maintain a social network.
菲律宾正步入人口老龄化阶段。这引发了与老年人心理健康相关的问题。然而，尽管有关于晚年抑郁症的研究，但针对低收入和中等收入国家农村社区人群经历的文献却很有限。本研究调查了菲律宾农村地区60岁及以上老年人的抑郁情况、所经历的压力及缓解压力的措施，以及生活安排，并比较了抑郁的老年人和未抑郁的老年人。采用访谈辅助调查的横断面描述性设计。通过便利抽样从菲律宾各地农村保健诊所寻求治疗的410名老年人中获取数据。数据通过频率和卡方分析。抑郁的受访者占11.5%，而77.1%的人报告有一定程度的压力。他们缓解压力的措施包括规律饮食（82.9%）、锻炼（64.6%）、祈祷（62%）、与朋友和家人外出（22%）以及按摩（7.3%）。约三分之一的受访者独自生活。对于总体生活压力，未抑郁的人报告说他们的生活有些压力，显著高于抑郁的同龄人。回答工作和金钱是压力来源的受访者与未经历与工作或金钱相关压力的受访者相比存在显著差异。对于缓解压力的措施，进行锻炼并将与朋友和家人外出视为维持良好幸福感措施的人报告抑郁的可能性显著较低。独自生活的人与与成年人、孩子或两者一起生活的老年人之间没有差异。抑郁是农村市镇社区居住老年人关注的一个领域。我们的研究结果表明，需要开展初级保健服务，如抑郁症筛查、健康教育、促进健康生活方式、精神信仰、压力管理，以及开展促进社交互动和维持社交网络的活动。
