social network and geriatric depression.
There is a relation between the social network and geriatric depression. A person’s wellbeing is also a factor of a diverse social network. According to another study on the social network in Thailand, 25% of the study participants were at risk of social isolation because of a limited social network (Aung et al., 2016). The study was conducted on the elderly who were more than 80 years old. The study revealed a negative association between social network diversity and geriatric depression. The older adults with regular and frequent social contact are safeguarded from geriatric depression (Aung et al., 2016). The socially active individuals are less likely to suffer from non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and depression than non-active counterparts (Aung et al., 2016). The salutary and supportive social impacts that an active social life confers allows one to live a healthy life even psychologically.
However, for older adults in Thailand, a socially active life is not easy for them to access. This is because of their contact list that vanishes away with the years of survival. Social isolation is a common aspect in the global communities, with more people living into their 80s and 90s. Close to 50% of the older adults in Thailand are at the risk of social isolation (Aung et al., 2016). Thailand stands as the fastest population aging country in the world as of current. The diversity of the social contacts among the elderly in Thailand, however, is scant. As such, the common problem affecting the elderly in Thailand is depression. Almost 20% of the elderly suffer depression and other psychological issues. There is an inverse relationship between the social network and geriatric depression, as reported in a recent study (Aung et al., 2016). The study is relevant in Thailand, as the people over 80 years old are affected by poor social support. It is crucial to preserve the elderly’s social network diversity of the elderly in Thailand to improve their mental well-being.
Most of the older adults in Thailand have children, neighbors, or religious members representing their most active social ties. However, relatives and close friends are the average close social tie for half of the elderly in Thailand (Aung et al., 2016). The elderly in Thailand with long-term disability and long-term memory loss is significantly high among those with limited social network group (Aung et al., 2016). Most of the elderly in Thailand who suffer from depression have lost close ties, including their spouse and close friends. Children are also an important social tie that most of the elderly admit to having. Moreover, in the Thailand tradition, the parents, children, and grandchildren live together. The elderly retain the role of the caregiver t the grandchildren. Although most children migrate to live in other areas for career development and other reasons, it is easier to contact their parents because of mobile phones and improved transportation (Aung et al., 2016).
Neighbors also represent an important ecological, social asset for the elderly. However, it is not as available for the elderly that are residents of LTCs. Furthermore, the neighborhoods depend on how urban the community is (Aung et al., 2016). Some of the elderly in Thailand have also maintained educational and career networks. Some also have active social roles within their communities, which is helpful. Some of the active activities include volunteering and religious activities (Aung et al., 2016). Most of the elderly in Thailand are committed to the Buddhist religion, a positive social network. Clubs and groups also offer important social networks for the elderly. Several districts in Thailand have established clubs and groups for the elderly. The elderly get the opportunity to socialize through the clubs and interact. The social activities and groups help the psychosocial health of the elderly.
Besides, the impression that the elderly have regarding their health and long term memory loss has a strong association with depression. Nevertheless, regular and frequent contact with social contacts significantly prevents geriatric depression among the elderly in Thailand. Different studies report the relation between geriatric depression and social networks among the elderly. However, inconsistencies exist between the findings of the studies. The inconsistencies result from the different cultural contexts of the older adults studied (Aung et al., 2016). The earlier reports in Thailand show the consistency in the relationship between a social network and geriatric depression. The significant relation that stood out in all of the earlier reports on the social networks’ impact on the elderly in Thailand shows a positive social impact on the psychological well-being of the elderly. It is, therefore, crucial to promote social networks for the elderly to improve their mental health.