Mental Health Implications in International Older Chinese Adults' Role Loss

Objectives: Social participation may prevent depressive symptoms in older adults. But research to date ignores gender differences in the associations between social participation and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different type and frequency of social participation on depressive symptoms, as well as if there is a gender difference in these correlations among older Chinese adults.Methods: Data was obtained from adults aged 60 years or above in the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, a nationally representative sample of older adults in China. Depressive symptoms were measured using CESD-10. Social participation included participation in social groups, hobby groups, sports groups, and community-related organizations. The independent relationships between each type of social participation and depressive symptoms were assessed using multiple linear regression models.Results: A total of 6,287 older adults were included in this analysis, of whom 49.69% were women. Participating in social groups, sports groups, and community-related organizations with a frequency of one or more per week was all linked to better mental health. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the positive relationship between participation in social groups, hobby groups, and community-related organizations and depressive symptoms is more flexible for older men than for women.Conclusions: Older individuals who participate in social participation at a high frequency may have better mental health. The findings provide novel insights into mental health from the standpoint of social participation in older adults. Gender differences in the associations between social participation and depressive symptoms need to be considered when formulating interventions to prevent depression.

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Prevalence of Insomnia Symptoms in Older Chinese Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.779914 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Qian-Qian Zhang ◽

Lan Li ◽

Bao-Liang Zhong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Planning ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults ◽

Insomnia Symptoms

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the sleep health of older adults, but the limited number of studies on insomnia symptoms of older Chinese adults differed in terms of screener of insomnia, sample size, and prevalence, making mental health planning for this population difficult. This meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of insomnia symptoms in older Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Both Chinese (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP) and English (PubMed, EmBase, PsycInfo) databases were systematically searched to identify cross-sectional studies containing data on the prevalence of insomnia symptoms in older Chinese adults during the pandemic. Risk of bias (RoB) of included studies was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data.Results: Nine studies with a total of 27,207 older Chinese adults were included. RoB scores of these studies ranged between zero and six. The pooled prevalence rates of insomnia symptoms and moderate and severe insomnia symptoms were 24.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 19.5–30.5%] and 11.1% (95% CI: 7.2–16.9%), respectively. In subgroup analysis, significantly higher prevalence rates were observed in studies defining insomnia symptoms as “Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) ≥ 8” than in those defining them as “ISI ≥ 15” (32.6 vs. 15.6%, P < 0.001) and in older adults living in the COVID-19 epicenter than in those living in other places (35.2 vs. 23.3%, P = 0.006).Conclusion: Nearly one out of every four older Chinese adults suffered from insomnia symptoms during the pandemic. Mental health services for this population during the pandemic should include supportive activities aimed at improving mental well-being, periodic assessment of insomnia symptoms, and psychiatric assessment and treatment when necessary.

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Depressive Symptoms Among Rural “Left-Behind” Older Adults: A Test of the High Outmigration Penalty Hypothesis

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbab040 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Qian Song ◽

Haowei Wang ◽

Jeffery A Burr

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Older Adult ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Economic Conditions ◽

Adult Density ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults

Abstract Objectives We investigated whether there was a “high outmigration penalty” for psychological health among older adults in rural China by assessing 2 potential community stressors associated with major sociodemographic changes in the community—increased outmigration and older adult density. We also investigated whether disparities in community economic conditions moderated the association between community stressors and depressive symptoms. Methods We employed 3 waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2015), using multilevel negative binomial models to address our research questions. Results Our results supported the “high outmigration penalty” hypothesis. Older adults living in low-income rural communities may experience an aggravated mental health penalty compared to those living in high-income rural communities. Higher older adult density was also associated with more depressive symptoms but only in less wealthy communities. Community differences in economic conditions were key factors buffering the high outmigration disadvantage associated with the psychological health of older Chinese adults. Discussion Rural outmigration may have deepened existing intercommunity health disparities among older adults. Policies should be developed to address community-level factors negatively associated with the well-being of older Chinese adults living in high outmigration and less wealthy rural communities.

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Systemic Inflammation (C-Reactive Protein) in Older Chinese Adults Is Associated with Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063258 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3258

Author(s):

Mona Elbarbary ◽

Artem Oganesyan ◽

Trenton Honda ◽

Geoffrey Morgan ◽

Yuming Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Hs Crp ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults

There is an established association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is likely to be mediated by systemic inflammation. The present study evaluated links between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in an older Chinese adult cohort (n = 7915) enrolled in the World Health Organization (WHO) study on global aging and adult health (SAGE) China Wave 1 in 2008–2010. Multilevel linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on log-transformed hs-CRP levels and odds ratios of CVD risk derived from CRP levels adjusted for confounders. A satellite-based spatial statistical model was applied to estimate the average community exposure to outdoor air pollutants (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM10), 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), and 1 μm or less (PM1) and NO2) for each participant of the study. hs-CRP levels were drawn from dried blood spots of each participant. Each 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and NO2 was associated with 12.8% (95% confidence interval; (CI): 9.1, 16.6), 15.7% (95% CI: 10.9, 20.8), 10.2% (95% CI: 7.3, 13.2), and 11.8% (95% CI: 7.9, 15.8) higher serum levels of hs-CRP, respectively. Our findings suggest that air pollution may be an important factor in increasing systemic inflammation in older Chinese adults.

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Predictors of poststroke quality of life in older Chinese adults

Journal of Advanced Nursing ◽

10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04918.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 554-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Angel Chu Kee Lee ◽

Siu Wa Tang ◽

Tak Hong Tsoi ◽

Daniel Yee Tak Fong ◽

Gabriel Ka Kui Yu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults

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Influence of income and self-rated socio-economic position on lifestyle, and physical and psychological function in older Chinese adults aged 65 years and over

Public Health ◽

10.1016/j.puhe.2012.12.008 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 127 (9) ◽

pp. 878-881 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Woo ◽

J. Leung ◽

R. Chan ◽

P.H. Chau

Keyword(s):

Psychological Function ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Economic Position ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults

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Trends in disability of instrumental activities of daily living among older Chinese adults, 1997-2006: population based study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016996 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. e016996 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Yajun Liang ◽

Anna-Karin Welmer ◽

Jette Möller ◽

Chengxuan Qiu

Keyword(s):

Daily Living ◽

Total Sample ◽

Population Based ◽

Chinese Adults ◽

Nutrition Survey ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Iadl Disability ◽

Older Chinese ◽

Older Chinese Adults ◽

Over Time

BackgroundData on trends for disability in instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) are sparse in older Chinese adults.ObjectivesTo assess trends in prevalence and incidence of IADL disability among older Chinese adults and to explore contributing factors.DesignPopulation based study.Setting15 provinces and municipalities in China.SubjectsParticipants (age ≥60) were from four waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey, conducted in 1997 (n=1533), 2000 (n=1581), 2004 (n=2028) and 2006 (n=2256), and from two cohorts constructed within the national survey: cohort 1997–2004 (n=712) and cohort 2000–2006 (n=823).MeasurementsIADL disability was defined as inability to perform one or more of the following: shopping, cooking, using transportation, financing and telephoning. Data were analysed with logistic regression and generalised estimating equation models.ResultsThe prevalence of IADL disability significantly decreased from 1997 to 2006 in the total sample and in all of the subgroups by age, sex, living region and IADL items (all ptrend<0.05). The incidence of IADL disability remained stable from cohort 1997-2004 to cohort 2000-2006 in the total sample and in all of the subgroups (all p>0.10). The recovery rate from IADL disability significantly increased over time in those aged 60–69 years (p=0.03). Living in a rural area or access to local clinics for healthcare was less disabling over time (ptrend<0.02).ConclusionsThe prevalence of IADL disability decreased among older Chinese adults during 1997–2006, whereas the incidence remained stable. The declining prevalence of IADL disability might be partly due to the decreased duration of IADL disability, and to improvements in living conditions and healthcare facilities over time.

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