Belief in a just world and depression in elderly nursing home residents

Abstract

Objective: Belief in a just world (BJW) modulates people's abilities to cope with anxiety, fear, and life transitions and thus depression and its debilitating effects. Little is known about how Belief in a just world modulates these coping abilities in elderly nursing home residents or their levels of depression either. Participants: A sample of 354 cognitively able elderly nursing home residents in Lebanon was selected for the study. Methods: This study, therefore, explored elderly belief in a just world (BJW-S) by gender and length of time in elderly homes in its relation to levels of depression as measured by the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale (GDS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination screening instrument for older adults. Results: The findings showed no main significant effects for gender or length-of-stay on level of depression. The chief significant difference found was for scores on the belief in a just world scale and levels of depression. Those who had high scores on belief in a just world scored low on depression, and vice-versa. Conclusions: Therefore, a strong belief in a just world seemed to act as a preventative or coping mechanism against depression from initial transition forward for elderly nursing home residents.

Examining Belief in a Just World, Religious Worldviews, and Self-Esteem Within the Framework of Terror Management Theory: Mortality Salient and Nonmortality Salient Organizations

“…It is possible to note that just world belief provides individuals psychological buffer against problems/negativities of the world. Belief in a just world is a vigorous personal coping source that helps individuals to cope with stressful life events and it is related to uncertainty feelings, psychological distress, depression and anxiety in a negative way, and future orientation in a positive way (Carifio & Nasser, 2012; Otto et al., 2006; Xie et al., 2011). In addition, a study testing TMT and belief in a just world shows that belief in a just world increases after mortality salience (Bassett & Cate, 2014).…”

New Holistic Enrichment Program Utilizing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Designed for Institutionalized Residential Care Facilities

“…In an IRCF, these types of exercise have proven to increase a person's self-esteem and mental state, which is as important as the physical benefits [16]. Older adults will feel better about themselves, ultimately decreasing depression and enhancing their quality of life [28]. The loss of motor skills can cause the deficient use of energy which puts more pressure on muscles and less capable of operation [29].…”

Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Attitudes Toward Justice in the World in a Sample of Deaf and Blind Persons in Osijek Baranja Region

“…Prema nekim istraživanjima izraženiji stavovi o pravdi u svijetu povezani su s boljim autonomnim odgovorom kardiovaskularnog sustava, slabijim tjelesnim manifestacijama stresa i većom učinkovitošću pri izvođenju mentalnih i fizičkih zadataka (12). Izraženi stavovi o pravednom svijetu preveniraju i nastanak težih psihijatrijskih bolesti poput depresije i anksioznog poremećaja (13). Zanimljiva je i činjenica da mehanizmi suočavanja sa stresom, poput teorije o pravdi u svijetu, djeluju zaštitno i kod pacijenata s teš-illnesses and those missing social support or, on the other hand, having difficulties with communication within their social circle (8).…”

“…According to some studies, a stronger belief in a just world is linked to a better autonomous response of the cardiovascular system, less dominant somatic manifestations of stress and higher efficacy when performing mental and physical tasks (12). Stronger belief in a just world prevents the development of more severe psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders (13). Interestingly, coping mechanisms, such as the Just World Theory, have a protective effect on patients with severe mental illnesses and also decrease the intensity of paranoid thoughts in patients with schizophrenia kim psihijatrijskim bolestima, odnosno smanjuju i razinu paranoidnih ideja u oboljelih od shizofrenije (14).…”