Aims. This study’s aim was to test the effects of self-transcendence on depression among cognitively intact nursing home patients. Background. Depression is considered the most frequent mental disorder among the elderly population. Specifically, the depression rate among nursing home patients is three to four times higher than that among community-dwelling elderly. Therefore, finding new and alternative ways to prevent and decrease depression is of great importance for nursing home patients’ well-being. Self-transcendence is related to spiritual as well as nonspiritual factors, and it is described as a correlate and resource for well-being among vulnerable populations and at the end of life. Methods. A two-factor construct of the self-transcendence scale (interpersonal and intrapersonal) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) was applied. A sample of 202 cognitively intact nursing home patients in central Norway was selected to respond to the questionnaires in 2008/2009. Results. A hypothesized SEM model demonstrated significant direct relationships and total effects of self-transcendence on depression. Conclusion and Implication for Practice. Facilitating patients’ self-transcendence, both interpersonally and intrapersonally, might decrease depression among cognitively intact nursing home patients. 1. Introduction In the next 30 years, the number of people over 65 in the world will almost double to 1.3 billion [1]. Moreover, the most rapidly growing segment is people over 80. By 2050 the percentage of those 80 and older will be 31%, while the number was 18% in 1980 [2]. This huge shift to an older population globally has given rise to the notions of the “third” and “fourth” ages in the lifespan development literature [3]. This differentiation of the last part of the lifespan into two separate phases is important because of the characteristic patterns of gains (growth) and losses (decline) seen in the “young old” and the “old old” [4]. For many of those in the fourth age (80+) issues such as physical illness and approaching mortality decimate their functioning and subsequently lead to the need for nursing home (NH) care. Depression is one of the most prevalent mentally ill health problems facing European citizens today [5], and it is considered one of the most frequent mental disorders in the elderly population. Moreover, depression is particularly common among these living in long-term care facilities [6]. Reported rates of major depression in older adults, depending on the location and characteristics of the sample, have ranged from 1%
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