THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SOCIAL SKILLS, DEPRESSION AND HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIORS OF THE ELDERLY LIVING IN MUANG NAKHONSAWAN PROVINCE

Abstract

This article aimed to study the correlation between social skills, depression, and health promoting behaviors among elderly who were the residents of Wat Sai Tai community, Muang district, Nakhonsawan province. The survey study involved 265 samples. Research tools comprised of social skills questionnaire, 9Q questionnaire and health promoting behaviors questionnaire. They were tested for reliability which the quality was acceptable 0.849, 0.905 and 0.890 respectively. Statistical analysis comprised of percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s product moment correlation. The results showed that, 1) overall social skills of the elderly in Muang Nakhonsawan Province were at a moderate level (60.1%) Additionally, the results of each aspect showed that the sensitivity in social perception were at a high level (16%) whereas other aspects were at a moderate level, namely, emotional expression (57.8%) sensitivity to perceive others' emotions (44.4%) self - control (48.5%) social expression (64.6%) and social control (51.9%). This study found that 6.4 percent of elderly were at risk of depression. The level of health promoting behaviors were at a good level (41.85%) Inferior to a poor level (31.3%) and a moderate level (25.7%) respectively. 2) Study shows the correlation with significant level of.01 (r=.591) between overall social skills and health promoting behaviors and depression correlated with health promoting behaviors with significant level of.05 (r=.149).