Improvement of depressive symptomatology in elderly people thanks to the University program of "Classrooms of experience" of the University of the Basque Country
Main Article Content
Abstract
Life expectancy is increasing in first world societies so it is a priority to ensure a satisfactory and healthy life throughout life until the end of it. Furthermore, we know that depression is one of the mental illnesses that most prevails in the elderly. In the actual study, we worked with the students of the first year of the University of the Basque Country, all of them studying in the Experience Classrooms of Biscay. We evaluate the presence of depressive symptomatology, as well as its relationships with other people in order to see if attending to those classes is related with an improvement in depression and to analyze relationships between different psychological and relational variables. Our results suggest that the University for over 55 years old can improve the symptomatology of depression and that this improvement is related to other psychological and relational variables. We underline the importance to continue creating resources for the elderly people in order to help prevent isolation, mental health problems and promote well-being.
References
Blazer, D.G. (2010). Protection from late life depression. International Psychogeriatrics, 22(2),
171-173.
Blazer, D.G., y Hybels, C.F. (2005). Origins of depression in later life. Psychological Medicine,
35(9), 1241-1252.
Bryant, C., Jackson, H., y Ames, D. (2008). The prevalence of anxiety in older adults:
Methodological issues and a review of the literature. Journal of Affective Disorders,
109(3), 233-250.
Buendía, J. (1994). Envejecimiento y psicología de la salud. Madrid: Siglo XXI de España
Editores.
Burroughs, H., Lovell, K., Morley, M., Baldwin, R., Burns, A., y Chew-Graham, C. (2006).
‘Justifiable depression’: How primary care professionals and patients view late-life
depression? A qualitative study. Family Practice, 23(3), 369-377.
Derogatis, L.R., y Melisaratos, N. (1983). The brief symptom inventory: An introductory report.
Psychological Medicine, 13(3), 595-605.
Derogatis, L.R., y Savitz, K.L. (2000). The SCL–90–R and brief symptom inventory (BSI) in
primary care. En M.E. Maruish (Ed.), Handbook of psychological assessment in primary
care settings (pp. 297-334). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
Jiménez, G., Izal, M., y Montorio, I. (2016). An intervention program to enhance the wellbeing of
the elderly. Pilot study based on positive psychology. Suma Psicológica, 23(1), 51-59.
Laidlaw, K., Thompson, L.W., Gallagher-Thompson, D., y Dick-Siskin, L. (2003). Cognitive
behaviour therapy with older people. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Menéndez, S., Cuevas-Toro, A.M, Pérez-Padilla, J., y Lorence, B. (2016). Evaluación de los
estereotipos negativos hacia la vejez en jóvenes y adultos. Revista Española de Geriatría
y Gerontología, 51(6), 323-328.
Midanik, L.T., Soghikian, K., Ransom, L.J., y Tekawa, I.S. (1995). The effect of retirement on
mental health and health behaviors: The kaiser permanente retirement study. The
Journals of Gerontology Series B, 50(1), 59-61.
Oh, A., Patel, K., Boscardin, W.J., Max, W., Stephens, C., Ritchie, C.S., y Smith, A.K. (2019).
Social Support and Patterns of Institutionalization among Older Adults: A Longitudinal
Study. Journal of American Geriatric Society, 0(0), 1-6.
Padilla, D., Góngora, J.M., Parra, A., Díaz, P., y Manzano A. (2016) Personas mayores:
innovación y emprendimiento. International Journal of Developmental and Educational
Psychology, 1(2), 63-71.
Sancho, C., Blasco, M., Martínez-Mir, R., y Palmero, F. (2002). Análisis de la motivación para el
estudio en adultos mayores. REME–Revista Electrónica de Motivación y Emoción,
Castellón de la Plana, 5(10), 1-5.
Téllez, V. (2004). Envejecimiento y espacios alternativos de participación social. Emergency, 104,
102-105.
Vivaldi, F., y Barra, E. (2012). Psychological Well-Being, Perceived Social Support and Health
Perception Among Older Adults. Terapia Psicológica, 30(2), 23-29.
Yeung D.Y., y Zhou X. (2017). Planning for Retirement: Longitudinal Effect on Retirement
Resources and Post-retirement Well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(8), 1300.
doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01300