THE EFFECT OF A SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUP PROGRAM ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE ELDERLY IN THE ELDERLY CLUB IN MUENGE DISTRICT, PHETCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

                Objective: To compare 1) The mental health of the elderly in the elderly club, Muang District, Phetchaburi Province before receiving the social support program 2) The mental health of the elderly in the elderly club, Muang District, Phetchaburi Province between experimental group and control group.

                Methods: This study was quasi-experimental research conducted with the aim of studying the effects of a social support program on the mental health of the elderly. The sample was 60 elderly people, who met the criteria in the Elderly Club, Muang District, Phetchaburi Province. The sample were matched pair and simple randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group with 30 subjects each. The experimental group received the social support program developed by the researcher according to the concept of House (House, 1981) consisting of eight activities. One activity was carried out/week for 90 minutes per session for a total of 8 weeks. The control group received routine care. The results were assessed using the Thai Geriatric Mental Health Assessment (T-GMHA-56) 2 times, once at pretest and one immediately after the experiment.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test statistics.

                Results: 1) the mean score for mental health of the experimental group after the social support program was higher than at pretest with statistical significance at .001; 2) the mean difference scores for mental health between before and after the social support program in the experimental group were different from the control group with statistical significance at .001.

                Conclusion: Social support group program can promote mental health in the elderly. This can be another option to prevent mental health problems among the elderly in the community.