A rapidly growing senior population is facing loneliness, desolation andisolation in our ageist society. Age-linked detachment and a number of socialinteractors are closely related to general health, physical condition anddepression.Using standardized instruments, the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russellet al., 1980), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimetet al., 1988), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (Brink et al., 1982), this nonexperimental-study investigated the level of perceived loneliness, socialsupport and the causative relationship of these factors to the presence ofdepression among 50 independent, relatively healthy elders in a Montrealsenior centre.Findings suggest that loneliness is a major predictor of elderdepression. Lack of perceived social support could contribute to sensedloneliness and that depression may be present in healthy, independentelderly.Intergenerational workshops for seniors are suggested to improve lifesatisfaction through social interaction. Further goals are to modify myths,stereotypes and contradictory attitudes inherent to the cohort. / fr
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.67471 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Viragh, George |
| Contributors | Sidney M. Duder (Supervisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Social Work (School of Social Work) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
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