Occupational Competence, Environmental Support and Quality of Life for People with Depression: A Path Analysis

Abstract

People with depression suffer from persistent psychosocial and occupational impairments and diminished quality of life after recovering from acute episodes. The purpose of this study was to identify the links and pathways between these factors and examine their impact on quality of life for people with depression. One hundred and three subjects completed measures assessing their depression severity, level of anxiety, self care, occupational competence, and environmental support. Path analysis was utilized to decompose the interrelationship among variables. The results showed that the depression severity, occupational competence, and environmental support had direct or indirect effects, or both, on quality of life. The three largest direct effects were depression severity on quality of life and on occupational competence, as well as occupational competence on environmental support. The depression severity and environmental support directly affected quality of life, while the occupational competence had an indirect effect on quality of life, through the environmental support. Additionally, the depression severity had indirect effects on quality of life, through the occupational competence and the environmental support. The three largest total effects on quality of life were the depression severity (−.7526), environmental support (.2307), and occupational competence (.1049). In addition to treatment of depression symptom, there are needs for professionals to provide opportunities for the people with depression to engage in occupations to enhance occupational competence and obtain environmental support.

Keywords:

• Depression
• Occupational therapy
• Quality of life

This study was supported by grant DOH 95-TD-M-113-047 from the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, and grants NSC 94-2516-S-002-010, NSC 95-2516-S-002-007, and NSC 96-2516-S-002-004 from the National Science Council, Executive Yuan, Taiwan NSC 97-2628-S-002-001-MY3.

Notes

*P < .05;

^a Beck Depression Inventory-II;

^b Occupational self-assessment, self domain;

^c Occupational self-assessment, environmental domain;

^d Activity of daily living inventory;

^e Quality of life.

^a Beck Depression Inventory-II;

^b Occupational self-assessment, self domain;

^c Occupational self-assessment, environmental domain;

^d Activity of daily living inventory;

^e Quality of life.