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The Relationship between Depression and Adjustment Pattern of Senior Citizens

SUNITA* AND SHEELA SANGWAN
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana),
India
*(e-mail : kartikkarwasra44@gmail.com); Mobile : 9813756230
(Received : October 12, 2018; Accepted : November 29, 2018)

ABSTRACT

Depression is a common public health issue with the increasing life expectancy worldwide and it is associated with morbidity
as well as disability among the elderly. Adjustment is the behavioural process by which humans and other animals maintain
balance among their various needs or between their needs and the obstacles of their environments. People strive to be
comfortable in their surroundings and to have their psychological needs met through the social networks they inhabit. The study was conducted in Hisar district of Haryana state. The study was planned on senior citizens of 60-70 years of age. To draw the rural sample, two villages, namely, Gawar and Shyamsukh were purposively selected because these villages were adopted by Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar under the scheme Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. To draw the urban sample, city area of Hisar district was taken. A total of 400 senior citizens were selected to represent the sample. Out of these, 200 (100 male and 100 female) senior citizens were selected from rural area and similarly 200 (100 male and 100 female) senior citizens were selected from urban area. A total of 400 senior citizens were selected to represent the sample. Two variables were used i. e. Dependent and Independent variables. Depression was taken as independent variable and quality of life was taken as dependent variable. The adjustment pattern of the senior citizens was measured using the Old-age Adjustment Inventory (SJOAI). Results revealed that depression was positively and significantly correlated with health, home, social, emotional, financial and overall adjustment pattern of senior citizens.
Key words : Adjustment pattern, senior citizens, environment, depression, functional impairment, disability