Impact of family video calls on depression and perceived social support among older adults residing in nursing home residents in Tabriz

Abstract Introduction Elderly people may need to stay in nursing home for various reasons. Separation from family may affect depression and perceived social support in older adults. This study aimed to investigate the effect of video communication on depression and perceived social support in nursing home residents. Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2022 on 61 older adults in nursing homes in Tabriz, Iran, using cluster sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention ( n = 29) and control ( n = 32) groups. The intervention group received weekly video calls with family over two months alongside routine visits; while the Control group received routine visits only. Depression and perceived social support were assessed at baseline and after two months using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 ( p < 0.05). Results After the intervention, the mean depression score in intervention group was significantly lower than control group (Effect size = 0.87, p = 0.001). The mean perceived social support score (Effect size = 0.67) in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control (Effect size = 0.67, p = 0.01). Conclusion Video calls with family were associated with reduced depressive symptoms and increased perceived social support among nursing home residents. These findings show that video communication can be used in nursing homes to enhance the short-term well-being of residents.