Influential factors of depressive symptoms and depression in institutionalized elderly : A descriptive literature review

Because of the high incidence of depression and the globalization of social aging, some adults who previously had depressive symptoms enter long-term care facilities, and the proportion of older persons in long-term care is gradually increasing. Caregivers who understand the factors associated with depression in geriatric care settings can help develop targeted care programs to meet patients' care needs and improve their quality of life.Aim: To describe influencing factors of depression and depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly.Design: A descriptive review of quantitative studies.Method: The PubMed and Cinahl databases were used to find all of the publications. After reading carefully, appropriate articles were selected, all the results were classified , and the differences of the influencing factors were compared and analyzed.Results: The review included a total of 11 final articles. Four influencing factors emerged from the research: 1)Socio-demographic factors; 2)Psychological factors; 3)Physiological factors; 4)Environmental factors.Conclusions: The results of this review confirmed the effects of reduced income, unemployment, loneliness, physical dysfunction, comorbidity, low social status and reduced social support in increasing depressive symptoms in the institutionalized elderly. Under the guidance of Beck’s Cognitive Theory, nursing staff can combine the clinical experience of the elderly to form a set of theoretical, grounded, purposeful and targeted nursing process.Key words: Influential factors, Depressive symptoms, Depression, Institutionalized elderly, Quantitative research