The effect of depression on social engagement in newly admitted Dutch nursing home residents.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of depression (high levels of depressive symptoms) on social engagement.


METHODS
In 65 nursing homes in the Netherlands, 562 newly admitted residents were assessed at admission. Social engagement was measured with the MDS Index of Social Engagement. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to study the effect of depression, measured according to the MDS-depression rating scale and controlled for confounders, on social engagement.


RESULTS
Fifty-one percent of the newly admitted residents had a low level of social engagement; twenty seven percent were depressed (high levels of depressive symptoms). Residents with a depression were significantly more often found to have low social engagement (OR 3.3), and confounders did not influence the strength of this relationship. Low social engagement on admission is predicted by depression and low cognitive performance, and to a lesser extent by impairments in vision and ADL.


CONCLUSIONS
Low social engagement is very common in newly admitted nursing home residents, and depression is an important independent risk factor.
Achterberg
Wilco
W
Cascade Zorgcentrum Rosencael, Utrecht, The Netherlands. wp.achterberg.gpnh@med.bu.nl
Pot
Anne Margriet
AM
Kerkstra
Ada
A
Ooms
Marcel
M
Muller
Martien
M
Ribbe
Miel
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012919:Social Behavior