Background: Mood disorders are an important health risk factor in the elderly population. Studies on the relationship between
residential environment and elder\u27s psychological wellbeing show the worst psychological status results in institutionalized subjects.
To elucidate this relationship in Slovenia, we compared cognitive functioning and the levels of anxiety and depression of Slovenian
elders among different residential arrangements.
Subjects and methods: The subjects were recruited from elderly clubs (EC; living at home; n=32), elderly day care centers
(EDC; living at home; n=22), and elderly homes (EH; institutionalized; n=49). All were female, 65-80 years of age and matched for
their duration of education. We compared the cognitive status (Mini Mental State Examination) and the levels of depression and
anxiety (Zung self-rating depression scale inventory, Zung self-rating anxiety scale inventory) among the three groups. For statistics
ANOVA, MANOVA, and ANCOVA were used.
Results: The EDC group showed the highest levels of anxiety, depression and cognitive decline compared to the EC and EH
groups, with no statistically significant differences between the EC and EH groups did not differ significantly in these respects.
Controlling for the cognitive status revealed that general cognitive functioning and residential environment did not exert their
influence directly on the depression level, but rather through their interaction. Regarding anxiety levels, after controlling for the
cognitive status no significant differences were found between the study groups.
Conclusions: In terms of anxiety and depression among Slovenian elders without or with moderate cognitive decline, home
environment may be favored versus institutionalization. Visitors of EDC should probably receive more attention to their
psychological wellbeing, including possible earlier transfer to EH
