Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2010

Thesis Director

Caridad Brito

Thesis Committee Member

Anu Sharma

Thesis Committee Member

Jeanne Snyder

Abstract

Research dealing with mental health issues in the aged has recently become an area of increased interest. As population trends continue to show that the elderly are increasing in life expectancy, the need for additional and more comprehensive knowledge of the elderly is needed. The present study aimed to further previous research dealing with predictors of depression in the elderly. More specifically, this study sought to target nursing home residents, which is a group that is often overlooked in the literature. The present study aimed to look at the possible relationship between satisfaction with life events and the amount of control an individual felt they had over those life events. A further goal was to assess what impact these variables may have on depression levels. A sample of 18 nursing home residents aged 65 and over was given a series of measures including the Geriatric Depression Scale, a Perceived Satisfaction and Control Questionnaire, and a Loss Instrument. It was hypothesized that past control and satisfaction levels would be higher than current levels of control and satisfaction given the participants' residential status; this hypothesis was supported. In addition, it was found that satisfaction with marriage had a moderate negative correlation with depression; as satisfaction with marriage decreased, depression levels increased. Further, as individuals' perceived control over past life events were attributed more to fate or chance, depression increased. The impact that these findings may have on the long-term care industry will be discussed as well as directions for future research.

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