The Role of Marital Satisfaction and Perceived Social Support on Depression of Empty and Full Nest Elderly

Elderly psychopathology has a special significance that nest status (living with or without offspring) can make it more complicated. This study aimed to assess predictors of depression in the elderly empty and nonempty nest.

This correlational descriptive-casual and effect research was conducted in elderly day care centers, some city locations such as parks and streets, and retirement department of administrations and companies. Participants who answered 7 of 10 questions of Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) were entered into the research. 274 valid questionnaires were selected from 350 questionnaires distributed between older adults 60 years old and older. The sample was selected by sampling availability but location and population variations were considered. To collect the data we used the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (12 items, MSPSS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS). Regression analysis was performed to analyze the data.

Depression was negatively correlated with marital satisfaction and all subscales of MSPSS in both groups (empty and nonempty nest). In the empty nest group, the correlation of depression and family (-0.552), significant others (-0.372), and friends (-201) support, and marital satisfaction (0.552) were significant (p < 0.01). In the full nest group, the correlation of depression and family (-0.435), and friends (-0.385) support was significant (p < 0.01). Also correlation of depression and significant others (0.279) support, and marital satisfaction (-0.424) were significant (p < .05). In the empty nest group, marital satisfaction and family support reversely predicted depression. In the full nest group marital satisfaction reversely predicted depression.

The findings of this study indicate that considering nest status in elderly depression is important and the type and power of variables in predicting depression in empty and full nest elderly are different. The findings of this study can have significant implications for geriatric health professionals.