A Study of the Effect of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and the Mediating Effect of Depression on the Quality of Life of Lone Seniors

Abstract

This study aims to draw policy and practical implications for lone seniors by examining the mediating effects of depression between activities of daily living and quality of life, and the effects of depression and activities of daily living on quality of life. To collect data, 1,059 seniors who lived alone in Nowon, Seoul were surveyed and secondary analysis was conducted on the data. Linear regression analysis was adopted to verify the mediating effects and the casual relationship between variables. Through this analysis, it was found that quality of life was improved as depression was reduced and activities of daily living was stimulated. The results also showed that depression worked as a parameter in the relation between quality of life and activities of daily living. This result suggests that approaches to depression should be used to improve quality of life for lone seniors and various programs should be provided that can improve their activities of daily living.