USE OF AN AVIARY TO RELIEVE DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY MALES

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.