[Social relationship and depression among the elderly (author's transl)]

The relevance of social relationships to the phenomena of depression among the aged was examined. The study was based on the reduced reinforcement hypothesis which predicts a low rate of social relationships (i.e. the loss of positive reinforcement) for those individuals who are prone to depression. This hypothesis was both tested and confirmed among the residents in homes for the aged in Berlin. The senior citizens who reported a low rate of social activities had higher depression scores than those reporting a higher rate of such social involvement. These results were confirmed for various indicators of social participation. A further variable influencing the rate of depression was identified as the self-rating of personal health. The results are discussed within both a behavioral and a cognitive framework.