A Study on Gerontological Nursing: The Effects of Group Reminiscence on Depression of the Elderly

노인간호에 관한 연구 : 집단회상요법이 노인의 우울에 미치는 효과

This study was to examine the effects of group reminiscence on depression of the elderly and to identify the possible use of the independent nursing intervention for reminiscence. The subjects, consisting of 46 elderly residents at D-ku, in Seoul, were divided into experimental and control group. The research was done by non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. Data were gathered from Oct. 4th to Dec. 2nd, 1989 through interview by questionnaire and measure the degree of depression by Zung's scale. Group reminiscence, was defined as independent nursing intervention belong to cognitive intervention by nurse. The schedule and content of reminiscence were developed by investigator. Analysis of data were done by frequency, mean, t-test, and Pearsons's correlations. The results were as follows: $\cdot$ There was no significant difference between experimental and control group after pre & post group reminiscence. $\cdot$ The mean depression score was 43.4 all subjects. In addition to, the result of added analysis were as follows; $\cdot$ There was significant difference in the depression score between healthy and unhealthy group according to perception by subjects (P<05). $\cdot$ There was significant difference between above average economic status and poor status according to perception by subjects (p<.05). $\cdot$ Depression of the subjects was related to the duration of widowhood(r=.3980, p=.015). Further research needs to be done on the effects of group reminiscence as independent nursing intervention. This study needs to be replicated in different settings, studied on the assess of psychological well being for the elderly with the exception of depression and to be identified psychological chacaracteristics of the elderly.