The Relationship Between Levels of Social Interaction And Depression In The Elderly

Background: Depression is a prevalent mental health issue among the elderly and contributes to decreased well-being and functional ability. Social interaction plays an important role in maintaining psychological health; however, evidence regarding its association with depression among elderly individuals living in residential care settings remains inconclusive. Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between social interaction and depression levels among the elderly at PPRSLU Budi Sejahtera Banjarbaru. Methods: A quantitative correlational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 81 elderly selected through total sampling. Social interaction was measured using a social interaction questionnaire, and depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation test. Results: Most respondents had good social interaction (88.9%), and the majority experienced mild depression (74.1%). Spearman’s rho analysis showed no significant relationship between social interaction and depression (ρ = 0.069; p = 0.541). Conclusion: Social interaction was not significantly associated with depression levels among the elderly at PPRSLU Budi Sejahtera, South Kalimantan. Other factors beyond social interaction may contribute to depression in this population.