本研究目的進一步瞭解影響社區老人之憂鬱程度之主要解釋因子。研究方法採用問卷調查法，以立意取樣方式選擇南部某區域教學醫院參與「老人健檢」社區老人為研究對象，共訪談204位社區老人。研究結果主要發現：ㄧ、社區老人平均年齡為72.29歲，大於70歲以上有121人（59.3%），多與配偶子女同住生活者有111人（54.4%），有宗教信仰者居多，佔87.3%，而經濟來源以「有收入」為主101人（49.5%），以每月二次有參與休閒活動者有81人（39.7%），自覺健康上為普通者92人（45.1%）居多。二、社區老人社會支持與憂鬱分析結果主要發現：（ㄧ）不同的婚姻狀況、教育程度、居住情形、休閒活動、自覺健康狀態之老年人在社會支持中的「情感性支持」及「尊重性支持」有顯著性差異。（二）不同的年齡、婚姻狀況、有無宗教、教育程度、經濟、居住情形、休閒活動及自覺健康狀態之老年人，與憂鬱程度差異。三、「情感性支持」、「實質性支持」、「訊息性支持」及「尊重性支持」的得分與憂鬱程度之間呈現顯著負相關。四、年齡、自覺健康狀況、參與休閒活動及尊重性支持，預測老人憂鬱的因子，整體R2達36.7%。綜合上述研究結果，提供公共衛生了解老年人心理健康狀況以及其影響因素，提供相關心理健康促進，架構出完善的社會支持服務，提供更有品質的生活。

Accompanied with the extension of human life and the rapid boost of elderly who have gradually lost their role, the Geriatric Depression not only results in a decline of their physical, psychological, and social function, but also increases the suicide and the risk of death, thus seriously impacting on the health of elderly and increasing the burden on caregivers. Furthermore, above cases seem to become crucial global health issues. To investigate the community geriatric depression and its influencing factors, this study used questionnaire survey, the Social Support Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale, as research tools and interviewed with 204 ＂health check＂ outpatients of community elderly, which selected from the regional teaching hospital of southern Taiwan. Besides, the collected data was analyzed and validated by SPSS 17.0 statistic software package. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, T-test, single factor ANOVA post hoc test of Scheffe method, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis to verify the relationship each factor. Main results of this study: 1. The number of respondents whose age are greater than 70 is 121 (59.3%); female respondents are 136 (66.7%), more than males in gender component; 111 (54.4%) respondents lived with their spouses and children; 101 (49.5%) respondents with incomes; 129 (63.2%)respondents with chronic illnesses; the majority of education level are junior high or below: 136 (66.7%); 108 (52.9%) respondents suffered from single chronic disease; the majority of health status respondents perceived are ordinary: 92 (45.1%); respondents with chronic diseases are mainly suffered from cardiovascular or metabolic disease. 2. The main results of analysis between community geriatric social support and depression are: (A) ＂marriage status＂, ＂education level＂, ＂household habitation＂, ＂leisure activities＂, and ＂elderly who perceived himself are health＂ exist a significant difference in the ＂emotional support＂, ＂material support＂, ＂informational support＂, and ＂respect for support＂. (B) ＂Ages＂, ＂marriage status＂, Religious belief＂, ＂education level＂, ＂Source of income＂, ＂household habitation＂, ＂leisure activities＂, and ＂elderly who perceived himself are health＂ exist a significant difference in the depression. 3. The highest negative correlation, which coefficient is -0.506 and reaches significance, is between social support and depression, representing the more social support the lower level of depression. 4. Analyzed the relationship between basic attributes and emotional support, materially support, informational support, respect for support in the Social Support Scale, total score of the Social Support Scale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale by stepped regression analysis, the result shows that age, health, leisure and respectful support in the Social Support Scale represent overall 36.8% R-square, revealing the more be respected support for the elderly the lower of their depression level. In summary, this study hopes the results and suggestions can be adopted by public health and clinical care staff to take into account the characteristics of diversity, uniqueness, and continuity among several research variables. Finally, we expect research results could benefit while building substantive community support systems to provide each elderly person a better quality of life.