BMC Geriatrics· 2026Q1
Impact of family video calls on depression and perceived social support among older adults residing in nursing home residents in Tabriz
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- 2026year
Short summary
Weekly video calls with family over two months significantly reduced depression scores (ES=0.87, p=0.001) and increased perceived social support (ES=0.67, p=0.01) in nursing home residents compared to routine visits alone.
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Key points
- Weekly video calls with family over two months reduced depression in nursing home residents.
- Video calls increased perceived social support among nursing home residents.
- The intervention group had significantly lower depression scores (p=0.001) and higher social support scores (p=0.01) than the control group.
- Effect sizes for reduced depression and increased social support were 0.87 and 0.67, respectively.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Introduction Elderly people may need to stay in nursing home for various reasons. Separation from family may affect depression and perceived social support in older adults. This study aimed to investigate the effect of video communication on depression and perceived social support in nursing home residents. Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2022 on 61 older adults in nursing homes in Tabriz, Iran, using cluster sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention ( n = 29) and control ( n = 32) groups. The intervention group received weekly video calls with family over two months alongside routine visits; while the Control group received routine visits only. Depression and perceived social support were assessed at baseline and after two months using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 ( p < 0.05). Results After the intervention, the mean depression score in intervention group was significantly lower than control group (Effect size = 0.87, p = 0.001). The mean perceived social support score (Effect size = 0.67) in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control (Effect size = 0.67, p = 0.01). Conclusion Video calls with family were associated with reduced depressive symptoms and increased perceived social support among nursing home residents. These findings show that video communication can be used in nursing homes to enhance the short-term well-being of residents.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. BMC Geriatrics, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Neuropsychology and Physiological PsychologyPsychology