Abstract/Details

Mitigating the effects of depression in elderly males through environmental manipulation: A field experiment

Holcomb, Ralph John.   University of Minnesota ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  1992. 9233993.

Abstract (summary)

This study examines the treatment effects on 38 elderly male participants (Mean age = 76) of an aviary introduced into a VA Medical Center adult day care setting. The research design was $\rm A\sb1B\sb1A\sb2B\sb2,$ with each phase (A = no treatment, B = treatment) constituting two weeks.

An analysis of covariance on the difference between treatment and non-treatment depression scores indicated that observation of the aviary was significantly associated with positive change in depression scores, when "amount of observation" was used as an independent variable (N = 38; F = 7.48; df = 1,36; $p<.01).$</p>

Results from this study suggest that an aviary can be an effective intervention for depression in elderly male day care participants. Analysis further suggests that a pre-test to assess participants' previous animal ownership may increase confidence in positive client outcome (N = 34; F = 2.09; df = 3,31; p =.12).

Indexing (details)


Subject
Social work
Classification
0452: Social work
Identifier / keyword
Social sciences; men; veterans
Title
Mitigating the effects of depression in elderly males through environmental manipulation: A field experiment
Author
Holcomb, Ralph John
Number of pages
123
Degree date
1992
School code
0130
Source
DAI-A 53/08, Dissertation Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
979-8-208-92324-5
Advisor
Hollister, C. David
University/institution
University of Minnesota
University location
United States -- Minnesota
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
9233993
ProQuest document ID
303990583
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/303990583