Depression and Resilience in Late Life Widowhood: Testing Mediation Model of Social Support

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between depression and resilience in late life of widowhood. To achieve this purpose, a survey was conducted, and this sample was based on 200 widow and widower aged over 65 living in K city, Jeollabuk-Do. A sampling method was the snowball sampling using face to face interview, and an analysis method was the structural equation modeling. The main results testified by this study are as follows; First, the positive function of social support had direct and positive effects on the resilience, while the depression had directly impacted on resilience. Second, it was confirmed that the social support mediated the association between depression and resilience. This study theoretically contributes to the existing literatures documenting the impact of depression on resilience of subjects, as verifying mechanism of social support that have not been previously demonstrated in an empirical way. Not only that, but this study suggests practical and politic implication through these results.