title: Factors associated with depressive symptoms in older Taiwanese adults in a long-term care community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was to examine culturally based factors as potential predictors of depressive symptoms in older Taiwanese adults living in eight long-term care institutions in southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, exploratory design study was used with a purposive sample of 156 participants with a mean age of 79.80 ± 7.14 years. Measurements included filial responsibility expectation questions, two questions about degrees of acceptance of institutionalization, Perceived Stress Scale, Self-Transcendence Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An elder's willingness to be institutionalized, an elder's willingness to remain institutionalized, perceived stress, and self-transcendence were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (r = -0.35; -0.49; 0.60; and -0.67, respectively). Although no evidence for the relationship between filial responsibility and depressive symptoms was found in this study, there was evidence that filial responsibility was highly valued. Self-transcendence was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms, accounting for 45% of the variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide insight into the cultural factors associated with depressive symptoms and support the need of timely interventions for institutionalized Taiwanese elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan City, 71101 Taiwan. x3139@mail.cjcu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ya-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology