engleski

Loneliness, grieving process and depression affecting people of old age

Aim To investigate influence of loneliness and grieving process on manifestation of depressive symptoms, and to determine appearance of aggressive behavior as well as to explore subjects’ spiritual beliefs, and the ways of coping with spiritual and moral beliefs. Methods The research group consisted of 163 subjects older than 65 and divided in two groups. Older people living in an elderly care facility in Osijek formed one group, whereas the other group was formed of those living in their own homes in Osijek or Đakovo (Croatia). An anonymous and voluntary survey was used, and it included a general questionnaire, a questionnaire dealing with grief from a spiritual point of view, Kendall Questionnaire on Chronic Sorrow, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results Elderly people were most lonely, they had lower life satisfaction rates, and insufficient social contacts. Religion has a very important place in their lives, 130 (79.8%), and relieves hard lifetime moments. Subjects who lived in their own homes showed signs of chronic sorrow, 18 (19.8%) more often than subjects who lived in an elderly care facility, but the latter are more depressive and show more verbal aggressiveness. Conclusion The results emphasize that the feeling of loneliness and grieving process influenced the depression symptoms occurrence. It is therefore essential to encourage successful ageing and provide any help necessary to the elderly in order for them to cope with stressful changes the best way possi

depression, the elderly people, loneliness, grieving process

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