Effects of a Stress Management Program on Perceived Stress, Depression and Somatic Symptom in the Elderly

스트레스 관리 프로그램이 노인의 지각된 스트레스, 우울 및 신체화 증상에 미치는 효과

Purpose: This study was done to identify the effects of stress management program on perceived stress, geriatric depression, and somatic symptom in elderly Korean subjects. Methods: A pre-post test design with a nonequivalent control group was used. Fifty elderly Korean subjects with mild depression were recruited from the registerants at four public senior citizen centers within S-gu in Seoul. They were randomly allotted to the experimental group(n=25) and control group(n=25). The intervention was performed for one hour each week at each center for 5 weeks. The effects were measured by Perceived Stress Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean, and Patient Health Questionnaire-15. Results: Perceived stress and depression were significantly reduced in experimental group. The somatic symptom was not significantly different in the experimental group. Conclusion: The stress management program may have merit in improving mental health of elderly Koreans, although this conclusion is equivocal pending further well-controlled studies that include mediation techniques such as conversion therapy and health gymnastics.