Purpose in Life as A Predictor of Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in Kirinyaga Central Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The majority of the time, older people with depressive symptoms go unnoticed. As a result, many older people suffer in silence as they manage their symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate Purpose in Life as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in Kirinyaga Central Sub-County, Kenya. The objectives were to determine the level of Purpose in Life; establish the prevalence of depressive symptoms; and assess the relationship between purposeful living and the development of depressive symptoms among the senior citizens in Kirinyaga Central Sub-County. The study was based on the theories: the stages of development by Erik Erikson and the phases of aging by Gene Cohen. It employed a descriptive survey research design. A sample size of 207 respondents was evenly distributed among three mainstream churches in Kerugoya Town. The study utilized a probability sampling technique, to select the representative sample. Data collection instruments included interviews, the Purpose in Life scale, and BDI-II. The results indicated that 74.4% of the participants reported low purpose; 20.6% reported a moderate level of purpose, and 5.0% reported high level of purpose in life. 58.8% of the respondents reported having moderate to severe symptoms of depression. A Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between purpose in life scores and BDI scores, with r = –0.181. This indicated that individuals with a higher sense of purpose tended to report fewer depressive symptoms, while those with a lower sense of purpose were more likely to experience higher levels of depression.