This study was a descriptive correlationstudy. It tried to test the relationships between family support, powerlessness and depression in the elderly patient to develop basic data for nursing intervention. The subjects of this study were 61 patients, over the age of 60, who were admitted in one university hospital in Daegue. The data were analyzed by percentage, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results were as follows: 1. The mean score for family support was 3.52 (maximum score ; 4). The mean score for powerlessness was 2.51 (maximum score ; 4). The mean score for depression was 2.35(maximum score ; 4). 2. In general characteristics, educational level and number of children were significantly related to the level of depression 3. The correlations between family support and powerlessness, or family support and depression were negative. The correlation between power-lessness and depression was positive. This study revealed that powerlessness and depression were correlated with family support. Consequently, the implication for nursing is that there is a need to develop an intervention program for the patient's family in order to improve family support.
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