TITLE:
The Mediating Effect of Personal Sense of Control on Depression and Social Networks in Elderly Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis
AUTHORS:
Neng Wang, Xuefen Wang, Guoqing Wang
KEYWORDS:
Maintenance Hemodialysis, Personal Control, Social Networks, Depression, Mediation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
9,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To explore the mediating effect of personal sense of control on depression and social network in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHD). Methods: A general information questionnaire, Personal Mastery Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale 5 and Lubben Social Network Scale 6 were used to survey elderly MHD patients in two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan City, and a mediation effect model was established using Amos29.0. Results: The personal sense of control score of the 248 elderly MHD patients was (21.51 ± 4.95), the social network score was (9.64 ± 5.71) and depression score was (1.91 ± 1.69). The correlation results showed that depression was negatively correlated with social network and personal sense of control in elderly MHD patients (r = −0.553, r = −0.707, P r = 0.572, P Conclusions: Elderly MHD patients’ depression and personal sense of control were at an intermediate level, and the social network was at a low level, and depression not only directly affected the social network, but also indirectly affected the social network through the personal sense of control. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the levels of depression, social network and personal sense of control in elderly MHD patients, and enhancement of person mastery is one of the effective ways to improve the social network.