A Study on the Experience of Depression in Elderly Women Living Alone.

Won,  Mi Ra; Lee,  Kwang Ja

doi:2016.25.3.195

J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > Volume 25(3); 2016 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2016;25(3):195-206.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2016.25.3.195 Published online October 26, 2016.

A Study on the Experience of Depression in Elderly Women Living Alone.

Mi Ra Won, Kwang Ja Lee

¹Department of Nursing, Daewon University, Jecheon.
²College of Nursing, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. happysgmr@mail.daewon.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to explore the experience process for depression in elderly women living alone. METHODS: Data was analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's Grounded theory. The twelve participants were elderly women living alone, aged 65 to 80 years. RESULTS: From the participants' statements, 116 concepts, 43 sub-categories and 16 categories were extracted by an open coding process. Core category was 'wandering in a waste land'. The experience process leading to depression in elderly women living alone had 4 phases: loss, emptiness, struggle and response. CONCLUSION: The findings in this study on the experience of depression in elderly women living alone can be used for evidence in a detailed assessment, early detection and prevention of depression in elderly women living alone.

Key Words: Aged; Women; Depression; Grounded theory