This study examines the effect on the depression levels of 38 elderly
males (Mean age=76y) exposed to an aviary at a Veterans Administration
Medical Center adult day health care program. The research design was
A(1)B(1)A(2)B(2), with each phase (A=no treatment, B=treatment) const
ituting two weeks. Initial analysis uncovered no significant differenc
e on the group's Geriatric Depression Index (GDI) scores associated wi
th presence or absence of the aviary. A subsequent analysis of covaria
nce on the difference between treatment and no-treatment depression sc
ores indicated that utilization of the aviary by the men was significa
ntly associated with reduced depression (N=38; F=7.48; df=1,36; p<.01)
with greater reduction in depression associated with greater utilizat
ion of the aviary. Results from this study suggest that introduction o
f an aviary into the physical environment of elderly male day care par
ticipants may produce a reduction in depression among some men, possib
ly due to increased social interaction stimulated by the presence of t
he aviary.