Influence of Loneliness on Depression Among the Elderly Living in Chennai.

Loneliness and depression are common problems significant in a portion of the elderly population. The study's aim was to understand the relationship between loneliness and depression among the 100 elderly, (42 females, and 58 males), ages varying from 60 years and above, both living (N-50) and not living in old-age homes (N=50) in Chennai. Depressive symptoms were measured using Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form (GDS: SF) and loneliness, using UCLA-R Loneliness Scale. Results revealed that there is a strong relationship between loneliness and depression in the elderly, and the elderly who do not live in old age homes felt lonelier than the elderly who live in old age homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]