Effects of social integration on depressive symptoms in Korea: analysis from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006?12).

Conclusions The results of the present study provide a scientific basis for the specific association between the level of social integration and changes in social integration pattern with the risk of depressive symptoms in current practice. Therefore, interventions to provide emotional support for older adults via social integration may be important to protect against depressive symptoms.What is known about the topic? Although there has been considerable discussion about social integration among old adults, few studies related to effect of social integration on depression have been conducted.What does this paper add? The findings of the present study indicate that a high level of social integration is inversely related to depressive symptoms and is also associated with a substantial positive effect on depressive symptoms among individuals aged ≥45 years.What are the implications for practitioners? This paper provides evidence showing that it is useful to assess indicators of both social and emotional loneliness, which have been theorised to correspond to low social integration. PMID: 27413811 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Australian Health Review - Category: Hospital Management Authors: Tags: Aust Health Rev Source Type: research