Abstract

Background: This study aims to confirm the relationship between depressive symptoms, attitude toward aging, sense of community, and interpersonal needs, as well as identify factors that affect the interpersonal needs of older women aged over 60 years.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on a participant-reported survey. We employ the Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale, Attitude to Aging Questionnaire, Sense of Community Questionnaire, and Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire to measure the main variables. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling by visiting two community centers from December 2018 to June 2019. Hierarchical multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the factors that affect older women's interpersonal needs.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of attitudes toward aging, sense of community, and interpersonal needs were 63.18 ± 9.85 out of 75, 25.78 ± 10.36 out of 91, and 69.61 ± 11.65 out of 105, respectively. Socio-demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, attitude toward aging, and sense of community explained 39.4% of interpersonal needs (F = 7.188, p = .008). Among the main variables, attitude toward aging was the most influential on interpersonal needs (∆R² = 0.401, F = 40.213, p < .001).

Conclusions: The findings could provide evidence to support the expansion of depression prevention interventions, successful aging programs, and community-based social activities for older women to prevent frustrated interpersonal needs.