A Study on the Effects of Subjective Health Status on Cognitive Function in the Elderly: Focusing on Mediating Effects of Depression

Abstract

This study identified the relationship between the subjective health status and cognitive function of the elderly and studied the mediating effect of depression. To this end, survey data for the 7th year of the aging panel were used, and only a total of 6,940 people nationwide were used as raw data for the aging welfare panel. This study analyzed general characteristics, conducted correlation analysis between major variables, and used Model 4 of SPSS 25.0 and Hayers' SPSS PROCESS Macro to analyze the mediating effect of the elderly's subjective health status, cognitive function, and depression. The results of this study are as follows. First, it was found that the subjective health status of the elderly negatively affected depression. Second, in the effect of the elderly's subjective health status on cognitive function, the higher the subjective health status, and third, the elderly's subjective health status and depression. It was found that the higher the subjective health status and the lower the depression, the better the cognitive function. Based on the results of this study, practical implications were presented to maintain and improve physical function and to have satisfaction with daily life through active intervention to promote the health of the elderly.