Impact of loneliness and locus of control on depression among the elderly in Punjab, Pakistan: the moderating role of religosity

Depression is a well-known psychiatric issue among the elderly in Pakistan. In this regard, the loneliness seems a critical source to create depression on the older people of Punjab,
Pakistan. Nevertheless, owing to many demographic factors that limit their locus of control and troublesomeness of loneliness, the effectiveness of religiosity has the tool to overcome depression. The study therefore, aims to estimate the impact of loneliness and locus of control on geriatric depression; the moderating role of religiosity of elderly people of Punjab, Pakistan. Towards this end, primary data has been gathered from 384 respondents that were selected through a stratified random sampling. Close ended questionnaires were
employed for data collection and data were analyzed using hierarchal regression, T-test and Analysis of variance. The findings of the study show that loneliness is found to be
significant in explaining geriatric depression. Interestingly, locus of control which is measured by locus of control total, internal locus of control, external locus of control and powerful others locus of control is also found to have a significant relationship with geriatric depression. Furthermore, the religiosity as a moderator is also found to be significant in explaining geriatric depression. The study concludes that the effort to overcome geriatric depression in Punjab Pakistan should not be focused just on loneliness and locus of control to them. It must come simultaneously with significant moderating impact of religiosity. This can be done through religiosity such as more participation in religious gatherings and reducing the socio-cultural barriers that hinder them from realizing their full potential of religiosity.