The Relationship between Nutritional Status and Depression in the Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment Group: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Social Support

Abstract

This study aims to examine the moderating effect of social support on the relationship between nutritional status and depression in the older adults with cognitive impairment group. For this purpose, 2,545 older adults with cognitive impairment group and 7,281 normal older adults selected based on a cognitive function diagnostic test were selected as final analysis subjects among all respondents in the 2020 survey of living conditions and welfare needs of Korean older persons. As a result of the study, it was found that both the nutritional status and depression relationship between cognitive impairment group and normal older adults were negatively significant. It was found that the elderly with cognitive impairment group had a significant the blood relation social support system among social support, and normal older adults had a significant non-blood relation social support system among social support. In other words, the lower the blood relation social support system for the elderly with cognitive impairment group, and the lower the non-blood relation social support system for the normal older adults, the higher the depression. Finally, as a result of examining the moderating effect of social support, it was found that the elderly with reduced cognitive function had a moderating effect in the blood relation social support system and the normal older adults elderly in the non-blood relation social support. Therefore, this study expanded the academic discussion by examining the moderating effect of social support on nutritional status and depression in the elderly based on NSS (New Nutrition Science), which emphasizes theories related to nutrition, depression, and social support. In particular, it is meaningful in that it can be used as basic data for practical and policy measures by conducting research on the elderly with cognitive decline, who have a high prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.