Characteristics of social support and their associations with depressiveness among Lithuanian adult rural population

Ieva Šidlauskaitė-Stripeikienė¹, Nida Žemaitienė², Jūratė Klumbienė²

¹Department of Preventive medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, ²Institute for Biomedical Research, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania

Key words: social support; social network; depressiveness.

Summary. Background and objective. Data of recent scientific studies have showed strong associations between person’s social environment and physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of social support and disclose their associations with depressiveness in rural adult population.

Material and methods. In 2006–2007, the survey was carried out in a random sample of population aged 25–64 years in five rural regions of Lithuania within the framework of the international CINDI program. A total of 1754 participants were interviewed using structured questionnaires.  The associations between depressiveness and indicators of social support were assessed using logistic regression analysis.

Results. About one-third (34.7%) of respondents had little social support in their closest social environment, and 4.5% had no supporting persons at all. A lack of social support was more characteristic of women and less educated persons. The greater likelihood of depressiveness was related to worse indicators of social support: small social network, lack of support, and difficulties in communication with a husband/wife and relatives. Older and less educated women and men and those having poor relationships were more likely of being depressed. Depressiveness among men was also associated with being divorced.

Conclusions. One-third of Lithuanian adult rural population reported a lack of social support. The established associations between social support and depressiveness indicate that the development of social skills is an important resource for mental health improvement.

Correspondence to I. Šidlauskaitė-Stripeikienė, Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 4, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: ppkcentras@yahoo.com

Received 15 October 2009, accepted 8 December 2010