| Abstract: | ABSTRACT The present study examined variables associated with depression that have been linked to failure to thrive (FTT) syndrome in the elderly. One hundred thirty residents from two urban nursing homes were interviewed. Results of the study supported the hypothesis that elderly nursing home residents identified as depressed by the Geriatric Depression Scale experienced less comfort with being touched, poorer appetite levels, more feelings of dejection and hopelessness, greater preference for privacy, less self-esteem, and fewer social resources than residents who were not depressed. The discriminant analysis model with six variables entered classified 85.4% of depressed and nondepressed cases correctly. |
