Influence of mental health on the social behaviour of the elderly

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between mental depreciation and social behavioural issues of elderly people in Nigeria. The specific objective of the study ascertained the relationship of depression on the daily  activities of elderly people and also ascertained the influence of depression and dementia on quality of social interaction of elderly people. Descriptive survey method was used through questionnaire administration. The study administered a total of 100 questionnaires to elderly patients attending the memorial clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation statistical method. The result suggested a significant relationship between depression and social interaction of elderly (r=0.753, p<0.05).Furthermore, the result of the analysis based on the hypothesis two of the study revealed that there was a significant relationship between Dementia and social interaction of elderly in Ibadan, the study area (r=0.914, p<0.05).The study concludes that there is a relationship between mental depreciation and social interaction of the elderly.

Keywords: Depression, Dementia, Elderly, Mental depreciation, Social behaviour