Backgrounds: Depression has been a common psychological problem for the elderly, and disability is one of the risk factor of depressive symptoms. However, the mechanism of the mediators and moderators to depressive symptoms for the disabled elder people was less explored for Taiwanese elderly. Purpose: The objective of this study is to explore the association of coping strategies and social support to depressive symptoms for the disabled Taiwanese elderly. The direct and indirect effects were examined by structural equation model. Method?Data were from the 2008 National Science Council project ?Successful aging for the disabled elderly: Internal adaptation and external resources?. The face-to-face survey from long term care institution users who were aged 55 or over with physical disabilities of the elderly in middle Taiwan was conducted. Totally 444 persons were analyzed in this study. Descriptive analysis and path analysis were used for analysis. Result?(1) Stress showed the direct effect in enhancing
depressive symptoms, and the elderly having more stress were more likely to use venting and avoidance coping strategies, and thus increased their depressive symptoms. (2) Using problem solving coping and venting and avoidance coping strategies showed the direct effect of increasing depressive symptoms, while the seeking support coping was non-significatly related to depressive symptoms. (3) Social support may directly reduce the depressive symptoms. (4) When the disabled elderly received higher social support, their stress due to disability may be reduced and the use of venting and avoidance copoing strategies was less, and thus the depressive symptoms would be lower. Discussion?Social support is an important strategy to reduce depressive symptoms of institutionalized disabled elderly, also an important factor to avoid using inappropriate coping strategies and thereby reducing depressive symptoms. We suggest that the formal
caregivers and the families should encourage the disabled elder to express their feelings and the social support that they need. In addition, the long-term care institutions should hold social activities regularly to promote the relationship among the disabled elderly, and encourage the family provide more company.
Thus the older people may receive appropriate social support, and help them to perform the positive coping to deal with diablity in the old age.
