Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Evaluating the role of residence affecting the mental health among elderly populations in Malaysia: A cross‑sectional study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Roy Rillera Marzo
. Sudip Bhattacharya 1
. Mohamad Zulfadhli Bin Mohamad Yunus 2
. Nurin Irdina Bt Noraidiazhar 2
. Ain Mastura Nnakaliisa Bt Ssuna Salim 2
. Thevanai A/P Subramanian 2
. Nurainun Mardhiah Binti Samril 2

1 Department of Community Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

2 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Asia Metropolitan University, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract
BACKGROUND: According to the perception of majority of people, especially the elderly, it is believed 
that elderly people who are sent to old‑age homes are more prone to have depression compared 
to those who are living with the community. This study was aimed to assess the significance of the 
place of residence in relation to the presence of depression among the elderly.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑sectional descriptive study was conducted between March 
and August 2020 to assess the depression among the elderly population residing in the Muar 
district, of Malaysia. A random table was generated of 250 house numbers in Muar where there is 
at least one geriatric person was living and a random sampling method was used for data collection. 
A questionnaire was distributed to a sample size of 250 old folks of Muar: those residing in old‑age 
homes (n = 125) and those residing in their own houses (n = 125). A standard sociodemographic and 
geriatric depression scale interview was employed for data collection. All details were keyed into the 
SPSS version 22 software Standard Gradpack 23, and simple description and inferential statistics 
such as mean, median mode, percentages, and Chi‑square tests were performed to compare the 
effects of different residences toward the mental health of the elderly.
RESULTS: The total mean age of the elderly in both the places was 73.06 ± 9.116 years. Female 
respondents of this research accounted for 52.8%. In terms of religion, Islam had the highest number 
of respondents of 46.8%, followed by Buddhist (33.6%), Christian (10.8%), and Hindu (8.8%). 
The percentage of elderly having more than three children was 45.2%. The marital status and 
employment status of the elderly in Muar area are mostly widowed (40.8%) and retired (50%). They 
are predominately literate (81.6%) and most have a monthly income less than RM 2000 (90.8%). 
We found that the prevalence rate of depression was 70.4% in the elderly residing in old‑age homes 
and 24.8% in the elderly living in the community. Females had a higher prevalence of depression 
than males (60.2% vs. 39.8%) among the elderly in old‑age homes, whereas males had a higher 
prevalence in the community than females (51.6% vs. 48.4%). Logistic regression analysis revealed 
the place of residence (P < 0.01 and employment status (P = 0.011) as the predictors of depression.
CONCLUSION: Results of this study revealed that the high prevalence rate of depression among 
the elderly is in old‑age homes compared to elderly living in the community.

Keywords

Community health
depression
elderly
geriatric assessment
homes for the aged
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 2
Winter 2022
Pages 1-8

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