Factors associated with depressive symptoms among older adults living alone: An analysis of sex difference

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1038-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pao-Chen Lin ◽  
Hsiu-Hung Wang
Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 475
Author(s):  
Hye-Young Jang ◽  
Ji-Hye Kim

This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with frailty according to gender of older adults living alone in Korea. Data from the National Survey of the Living Conditions of Korean Elderly in 2017 were used. Participants were 2340 older adults who live alone. Frailty was determined based on the frailty criteria developed by van Kan et al. that consist of fatigue, resistance, ambulation, and illness. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared test, t-test, Jonckheere–Terpstra test and multinomial logistic regression. Among the older men living alone, 47.7% were in the pre-frail and 5.1% were in the frail. On the other hand, 51.8% were in the pre-frail and 12.2% were in the frail among the older women living alone. The factors associated with frailty according to gender are as follows. In males, depressive symptoms, limitation in IADL, and number of medications in pre-frail; BMI, limitation in IADL, and number of chronic diseases in frail. In females, depressive symptoms, number of chronic diseases, age, and nutritional status in pre-frail; limitation in IADL, depressive symptoms, age, number of chronic diseases, number of medications, nutritional status in frail. Based on the findings of this study, it is considered necessary to approach frailty management considering gender as well as the classification of frailty.


Author(s):  
Lu Niu ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a serious public health issue worldwide. However, there is scarce research addressing the association between loneliness and suicide in older adults in rural China. We set out to examine loneliness and other psychosocial factors in elderly suicide cases and explore their interaction effects. Methods Using a 1 : 1 matched case–control design, data were collected from 242 elderly suicide cases and 242 living community controls by psychological autopsy method in rural China, including demographic characteristics, loneliness, depression, hopelessness and social support. The chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) tree model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationships of these factors and suicide. Results The CHAID tree model showed that loneliness, hopelessness and depressive symptoms were closely associated with completed suicide and that loneliness and hopelessness interacted with each other. The result of multivariable logistic regression showed that individuals who were unemployed [odds ratio (OR) = 2.344; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.233–4.457], living alone (OR = 2.176; 95% CI: 1.113–4.254), had lower levels of subjective social support (OR = 2.185; 95% CI: 1.243–3.843), experienced depressive symptoms (OR = 6.700; 95% CI: 3.405–13.182), showed higher levels of hopelessness (OR = 7.253; 95% CI: 3.764–13.974) and felt higher levels of hopelessness × higher levels of loneliness (OR = 2.446; 95% CI: 1.089–5.492) were significantly associated with an elevated suicide risk in older people in rural China. Conclusions Regular evaluation of loneliness, hopelessness and depression can help detect older adults who are at risk of committing suicide. Interventions should target social support systems, particularly among people living alone, to alleviate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Treating depression is also key to preventing suicide among elderly people in rural China.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 400-408
Author(s):  
Yujun Liu ◽  
Yimeng Xie ◽  
Nancy Brossoie ◽  
Karen A. Roberto ◽  
Kerry J. Redican

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21547-e21547
Author(s):  
Carolyn Jean Presley ◽  
Arti Hurria ◽  
Ling Han ◽  
Linda S Leo-Summers ◽  
Cary Philip Gross ◽  
...  

e21547 Background: We characterized distinct functional trajectories among older adults in the year before and after a new cancer diagnosis and identified factors associated with functional decline. Methods: Among a cohort study of persons 70+ y, we identified 170 participants (lung (15.7%), breast (12.4%), prostate (7.8%); 31.8% incurable at diagnosis)) with an incident cancer diagnosis from 1998-2014. We followed their functional course using 13 basic, instrumental, and mobility activities measured during monthly interviews. To identify functional trajectories, we fit a group-based trajectory model of the 13-item disability scale 12-months before and 12-months after the cancer diagnosis. Regression modeling determined predictors of functional decline, defined as a higher count on the 13-item disability scale. Results: Three pre-cancer functional trajectories were identified (mean age at diagnosis: 83 y (73-105 y); similarly, 3 post-cancer functional trajectories were identified among the 158 non-decedents. Participants with severe disability pre-diagnosis remained severely disabled post-diagnosis. Approximately 40% of participants with mild or moderate disability pre-diagnosis transitioned to a worse functional trajectory post-diagnosis (see Table). Moderate and severe disability pre-diagnosis were significantly associated with functional decline post-diagnosis (moderate vs. mild aRR: 3.10; 95% CI: 2.24-4.30; severe vs. mild aRR: 5.71; 95% CI: 3.60-9.07). Depressive symptoms (RR, 1.40; 95% CI: 1.02-1.91), and incurable stage (RR, 2.16; 95% CI: 1.54-3.03) were also associated with functional decline. Conclusions: Approximately 40% of older adults experienced functional decline after a new cancer diagnosis. Pre-cancer diagnosis functional trajectory, depressive symptoms, and incurable stage were significant predictors of post-diagnosis functional decline. [Table: see text]


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Ju Chiu ◽  
Chun-Yu Tsai ◽  
Tsung-Yu Tsai

Abstract Background: To discern if prevalence of depressive symptoms in adults aged 65 and above in Taiwan changed during the past decade and to identify if protective and risk factors of depressive symptomatology differ by gender. Method: Data of nationally representative older adults (65+) interviewed from the 2005, 2009 and 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in Taiwan was analyzed (n=8,832). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used for the measurement of depressive symptomatology. Results: Age adjusted prevalence rate of depressive symptomatology among older adults in Taiwan reduced from 20.6% to 13.3% (X2=-7.5, p<.05) in the community. The most significant factors associated with higher depressive symptomatology in both gender was too much carbohydrates intake, which was significantly associated with 8.8 (95%CI=5.1-15.2) and 7.9 (95%CI=5.2-11.8) times depressive symptomatology in men and women respectively. Factors associated with lower depressive symptomatology in both gender include advanced age (over the age of 85), exercise and social participation. The advanced age for men and women reduced about 63% (AOR over the age of 85=0.4, 95%CI=0.2-0.9) and 62% (AOR over the age of 85=0.4, 95%CI=0.2-0.8) of depressive symptomatology for men and women respectively; Exercise reduced about 50% (AOR exercise=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.6) and 58% (AOR exercise=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.6) of depressive symptomatology for men and women respectively; social participation reduced about 55% (AOR social participation=0.5, 95%CI=0.3-0.7) and 36% (AOR social participation=0.6, 95%CI=0.5-0.9) of depressive symptomatology for men and women respectively.Conclusions: For adults aged over 65, advanced age, which is 85+ for men and 75+ for women, is a significant protective factor guarding against depressive symptoms. Carbohydrates, cognitive disorder, heart disease and falls were associated with higher depressive symptomatology in both gender. The pulmonary disease, underweight and educational level were risk factors for men; metabolic disease and milk intake were risks for women. Common factors associated with lower depressive symptomatology in both gender includes advanced age, exercise and social participation. Tea and coffee intake and married status were associated with lower depressive symptomatology for women.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1046-1046
Author(s):  
Poshan Dahal ◽  
Eva Kahana ◽  
Tirth Bhatta ◽  
Polina Ermoshkina

Abstract Social support in old age has been linked to psychological wellbeing outcomes, such as depressive symptoms. However, insufficient attention has been paid to implications of social support for different domains of psychological wellbeing. In this study, we explored these associations among 797 older adults (mean age = 78.61 years) living in a retirement community in Florida from the ECRC study. Our findings show that measures of social support and connectedness have varying influences on psychological wellbeing. Loneliness was associated with lower life satisfaction (b=- -1.12, p&lt;0.001) and higher depressive symptoms (b=3.52, p&lt;0.001). Higher self-rated social support was associated with higher life satisfaction (b= 1.66, p&lt;0.001) but did not predict depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms, however, were significantly higher (b=-1.45) among individuals who reported that they don’t have anyone who they can turn to if they feel lonely and want to talk. Feeling lonely also predicted lower positive affects among these older adults (b=-0.65, p&lt;0.001). Similarly, loneliness also predicted higher negative affects (b=1.28, p&lt;0.001). Negative affects were also significantly higher among women (b=-1.15, p&lt;0.001) but lower among those who were living alone (b=-1.06, p&lt;0.001). Overall, our findings underscore the importance of social support and connectedness for psychological wellbeing in later life. This finding is consistent with prior research demonstrating significance of social support in later life for the overall psychological wellbeing of the older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 33568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regiane Da Silva Heidemann ◽  
Luziane Fonseca Vilela ◽  
Gabriela Kurz Da Cunha ◽  
Renan Garcia Caldas ◽  
Pâmela Silva Vitória Salerno ◽  
...  

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and factors associated in the elderly of the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the variables of interest were investigated with instruments about the socio-economic profile, aspects of physical and professional activities, eating and sleeping habits. RESULTS: 312 elderly people were interviewed, with a prevalence of depressive symptoms of 30.5%. A higher prevalence of depressive symptoms were found in women, individuals older than 81 years, from the low class, living alone, physically inactive, and retired. In the adjusted analysis, the non-practice of physical activity, low sleep quality, and daily sleeping medication were statistically associated with the outcome. In contradiction to the literature, our results refute the well-established gender roles that preconize that males are more affected by physical impairment, while the females are more affected by psychological and psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it is important to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a population commonly affected by other diseases. In addition, characteristics associated with depression were detected, which can help prevent or improve depression in this age group.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 2042-2058 ◽  
Author(s):  
YOUNGMI KIM ◽  
AELY PARK ◽  
KYEONGMO KIM

ABSTRACTIn South Korea, the number of older adults living alone is rapidly increasing with the growth of the ageing population. Although there is some evidence of a link between financial strain and depression in this population, there is limited empirical evidence on the relationship between food insecurity and depression in older adults living alone despite the fact that they have a high prevalence of food insecurity and tend to seek food assistance. This study aims to investigate whether food insecurity explains depressive symptoms in Korean older adults living alone. We employed data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study collected from a large-scale national sample in South Korea. Our sample consisted of 815 older adults aged 65 or older who lived alone. Conducting ordinary least square regression analyses, we tested the main effect of food insecurity on depression and the interaction effect of food insecurity and low income. We found that the relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms differed by low-income status (b = 6.27, p = 0.047). The association was significant only in the low-income group (b = 1.37, p = 0.04). These findings suggest that protecting access to food may be a promising strategy to lessen depressive symptoms associated with financial strain among older adults living alone.


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