Effects of an Empowerment Program on Self-esteem and Depression for Low-income Elderly Women Living Alone

Sang-Hwa Lee; Seong-Sook Jun

doi:10.0000/jkapmhn.2012.21.4.311

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Lee and Jun: Effects of an Empowerment Program on Self-esteem and Depression for Low-income Elderly Women Living Alone

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2012; 21(4): 311-320.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/jkapmhn.2012.21.4.311

Effects of an Empowerment Program on Self-esteem and Depression for Low-income Elderly Women Living Alone

Sang-Hwa Lee, Seong-Sook Jun

College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Jun, Seong-Sook. College of Nursing, Pusan National University, Beomeo-ri, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan 626-770, Korea. Tel: +82-51-510-8359, Fax: +82-51-510-8308, jss@pusan.ac.kr

Received 20 August 2012 Revised 13 November 2012 Accepted 5 December 2012

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an empowerment program on self-esteem and depression provided through home visits to low-income elderly women who live alone.

Methods

The research design was a control group pre-post test design. The participants were 49 low-income women over age 65 living alone, 24 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group. The independent variable was the empowerment program, and the dependent variables were self-esteem and depression. The empowerment program was provided for 60 minutes, once a week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program.

Results

The experimental group reported significant improvement in self-esteem compared to the control group (t=12.50, p<.001). The experimental group also reported significant improvement in depression scores compared to the control group (t=-9.59, p<.001).

Conclusion

The results indicate that the empowerment program has the potential to improve the mental health of low-income elderly women.

Keywords: Empowerment, Self-esteem, Depression, Low-income, Elderly

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Flowchart of participants in the trial.

Figure 2

Conceptual framework for the study.

Table 1

Overview of the Empowerment Program

Table 2

Homogeneity in the Characteristics of the Experimental and Control Group (N=49)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group; IADL=instrumental activities of daily living.

Table 3

Differences of Mean Values for Self-esteem and Depression between Two Groups (N=49)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Notes

This article is a condensed form of the first author's master's thesis from College of Nursing, Pusan National University.

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