The Effects of Community programs Utilizing Social Support Elements on Depression and Cognitive Function in Seniors

Objective: An Analysis of the Positive Effects of Community Programs Utilizing Social Support Elements on Cognitive Function and Depression Improvement in Older Adults.<br/>Background: As South Korea's aging population rapidly increases, the number of people with dementia in old age is also increasing, and the cost of care and healthcare is becoming a major social issue. Loneliness and depression have been identified as major risk factors for dementia, which are strongly linked to social support. Older adults with high social support have better cognitive function and depressive status and feel less lonely, but there is a lack of research to address this issue. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effects of a community program using social support on depression and cognitive function in the elderly, and to propose strategies for health maintenance and dementia prevention.<br/>Method: In this study, four community programs utilizing social support components (emotional, informational, material, and evaluative domains) were developed and conducted twice a week for a total of 8 sessions (1 month) with 16 older adults (average age 74.5±4.9 years). Changes in depression and cognitive functioning were measured after the program, using the Global Depression Scale Short Form (GDSSF) for depression levels and the Cognitive Screening Test (CIST) for cognitive functioning. At the end of the program, participants were asked to rate their user experience on a five-point scale, and eight of them were interviewed in-depth to draw final insights.<br/>Results: The analysis showed statistically significant improvements in participants' preand post-program depression and cognitive functioning scores. On the other hand, there were no significant differences by age and education. In the cognitive screening subtests, there were statistically significant increases in pre- and post-program scores in the areas of executive functioning, visuospatial functioning, memory, and language, with the exception of attention and executive functioning. Following the program, the user experience evaluation received an overall satisfactory rating (average score of 4.2). In-depth interviews revealed that participants found the program most helpful for meeting new people and building social connections through social support activities. The most preferred program was the grass doll horticulture activity, as it facilitated the highest level of interaction across the four social support components.<br/>Conclusion: This study confirmed that a community program utilizing social support elements positively affects the improvement of depression and cognitive function in older adults. A program incorporating diverse content and activities centered on &quotinteraction&quot based on social support elements generated positive and satisfactory responses from seniors.<br/>Application: The results of this study can serve as valuable data for developing programs that positively impact depression and cognitive function in older adults. Furthermore, the findings suggest broad applicability, as the concept of social support can be applied across various genres and activities.