scholarly journals Public assistance program and depressive symptoms of the recipient: A cross-sectional Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study

Author(s):  
Shiho Kino ◽  
Daisuke Nishioka ◽  
Keiko Ueno ◽  
Maho Haseda ◽  
Naoki Kondo

Abstract Background Health inequality between public assistance recipients and non-recipients has been reported. However, it is not clear whether this is due to the participants’ income inequality or because of other socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. We aimed to examine whether older recipients of public assistance were more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-recipients. Methods Data were obtained from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a 2016 community-based study of older adults. Poisson regression analyses with a robust error variance using fixed effects were conducted to examine the relationship between receiving public assistance and depressive symptoms controlling for sociodemographic factors. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale 15. Results We found that the recipients of public assistance were 1.57 times (95%CI: 1.47, 1.67) more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-recipients. When additionally adjusting for indicators of social participation, this relationship was slightly attenuated; however, the recipients still had worse mental health (Incidence rate ratio: 1.33; 95%CI: 1.25, 1.42). Conclusions Even after controlling for sociodemographic factors, older recipients of public assistance were more likely to have depressive symptoms than non-recipients. However, social participation could slightly attenuate the negative relationship between receiving public assistance and depressive symptoms. Therefore, the public assistance program needs to consider inclusion of other healthcare supports in addition to financial support.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Satoru Kanamori ◽  
Ryota Watanabe ◽  
Meiko Yokoyama ◽  
Yasuhiro Miyaguni ◽  
...  

AbstractThe current study investigated the relationship between the frequency of watching sports and depressive symptoms among older adults. This study used cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide mail survey of 21,317 older adults. Depressive symptoms were defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥ 5. Participants were queried regarding the average frequency at which they watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet over the past year. Among the 21,317 participants, 4559 (21.4%) had depressive symptoms, while 4808 (22.6%) and 16,576 (77.8%) watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet at least once a year, respectively. Older adults who watched sports on-site a few times/year (prevalence ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.74) or 1–3 times/month (0.66, 0.53–0.82) were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-spectators after adjusting for frequency of playing sports, exercise activities, and other potential confounders. Meanwhile, a dose–response relationship was confirmed for watching via TV/Internet (prevalence ratio of 0.86, 0.79, and 0.71 for a few times/year, 1–3 times/month, and ≥ 1 time/week, respectively). This study suggested that watching sports on-site or via TV/Internet, regardless of whether they regularly engage in sports, may reduce the risk of depressive symptoms among older adults.


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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 444-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Kwan ◽  
Brian Draper ◽  
Samuel B Harvey ◽  
Zoltan H Endre ◽  
Mark A Brown

Objective:Depression in dialysis patients is often undetected despite associations with poor outcomes. The aim was to determine the prevalence and associations of depressive symptoms and physician recognition of depression within a typical Australian dialysis population.Method:A cross-sectional study examined haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients of two hospitals in Sydney. Participants were screened for depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).Results:One hundred and ten patients completed the HADS. Subjects had a mean age of 63.7 years, 37% from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, and median dialysis duration of 2 years. Forty-one per cent of participants had significant depressive symptoms, of whom 42% had been diagnosed with depression by their clinicians. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, having >10 medications prescribed, >3 hospitalisations in the last 12 months, and a history of depression were associated with depression.Conclusion:Depressive symptoms are prevalent in Australian dialysis patients. Robust evidence is needed on the effectiveness of treatments for depression in changing outcomes in chronic kidney disease.


2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (4) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Bobak ◽  
Hynek Pikhart ◽  
Andrzej Pajak ◽  
Ruzena Kubinova ◽  
Sofia Malyutina ◽  
...  

BackgroundRelatively little is known about depression in countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, especially Russia.AimsTo investigate the rates and distribution of depressive symptoms in urban population samples in Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in randomly selected men and women aged 45–64 years (n=2151 intotal, response rate 69%) in Novosibirsk (Russia), Krakow (Poland) and Karvina (Czech Republic). The point prevalence of depressive symptoms in the past week was defined as a score of at least 16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale.ResultsIn men the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 23% in Russia, 21% in Poland and 19% in the Czech Republic; in women the rates were 44%, 40% and 34% respectively. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with material deprivation, being unmarried and binge drinking. The association between education and depression was inverse in Poland and the Czech Republic but positive in Russia.ConclusionsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms in these eastern European urban populations was relatively high; as in other countries, it was associated with alcohol and several sociodemographic factors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-364
Author(s):  
Iram Fatima ◽  
Masood Nadeem ◽  
Muhammad Waqar Naeem ◽  
Hafiz Muhammad Zeeshan Raza

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of MDCAT scores on pessimism, loneliness, and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, to check the moderating effect of coping strategies. Purposive sample technique was used to get the relevant sample. MDCAT failures (N = 149) from different educational organization of Bahawalpur (Pakistan) were included in the research as sample. Demographic form, Siddiqui Shah Depression Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Life Orientation Test and Coping Styles Scale were administered to assess the impact of MDCAT scores on pessimism, depressive and loneliness symptoms among MDCAT failures and to assess the moderating role of coping strategies. For statistical analysis PLS and SPSS software were used. PLS algorithm, PLS bootstrapping, PLS moderation analysis and independent sample t-test were used to get the results. Results reveal that there is a significant impact of MDCAT scores on pessimism, depressive and loneliness symptoms. Also, there is significant positive relationship among pessimism, depressive and loneliness symptoms. Problem focused coping significantly moderate the relationship between MDCAT scores and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, problem focused coping has significant negative relationship with pessimism, depressive and loneliness symptoms. Moreover, emotion focused coping has significant positive relationship with depressive symptoms. Female were found having more emotion focused coping. The findings of the study have practical implications in providing insight relevant for development of psychological disturbance in MDCAT failures.


Author(s):  
Yuri Sasaki ◽  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Shihoko Koyama ◽  
Yukako Tani ◽  
Tami Saito ◽  
...  

Objective: As most studies relating to mental health and disasters have employed cross-sectional or follow-up assessments about psychological health with post-disaster information, the association between changes in social ties and mental health remains unclear. We examined the relationship between the changes in survivor neighborhood ties and depressive symptoms before and after a natural disaster. Methods: Participants were 3567 individuals aged ≥65 years living in Iwanuma city who had responded to questionnaires by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study both predating the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and 2.5 years afterward. Changes in the depressive symptoms were assessed using the geriatric depression scale (GDS) at the baseline and follow-up survey. Changes in the neighborhood ties were assessed by asking the participants about their interactions with people in their neighborhood. Possible confounders were adjusted in a linear regression model. Results: Among the 3111 participants in this analysis, 1073 (34.5%) had increased GDS score after the disaster. There were 336 (10.8%) individuals who had neighborhood ties before the disaster, but had no ties afterward; their mean GDS score increased from 2.93 points in 2010 to 3.19 points in 2013. Among those who had not had ties before and after the disaster the mean GDS score remained almost stable, from 2.19 points in 2010 to 2.12 points in 2013. The participants with post-disaster ties were significantly less likely to have an increased GDS score compared with those who had not had ties before and after the disaster (β = −0.39; 95% confidence interval: −0.72, −0.06). Conclusions: Increased neighborhood ties after the disaster reduced the risk of depressive symptoms even when survivors suffered disaster damages. The study reinforces the importance of social capital in disaster recovery and suggests to local governments and local communities that fostering horizontal, neighborhood ties may improve disaster preparedness and mental health resilience.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqun Chen ◽  
Zhongsheng Hua ◽  
Xiaoli Zhu

Abstract Background Social activities has been suggested to prevent for depression for middle-aged and senior citizens for a long time. However, researchers failed to reach an agreement on the influence of formal and informal social activities on depression for both males and females. This study aimed to investigate the difference between these two types of social activities on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and senior citizens for both males and females in China. Methods Based on activity theory, social activities are classified into formal social activities and informal social activities according to the degree of intensity and intimacy. A total of 8610 participants from an 8-year period of the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2018) were analyzed using fixed-effect analysis. 10-item center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depression symptoms for middle-aged and senior citizens. Results The average depression score for women and men are 9.235 and 7.141, respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between participating in informal social activities and depression scores. Moreover, the coefficient of informal social activities for men are significantly higher than women. Conclusion Only informal social activities can reduce depressive symptoms middle-aged and senior citizens. The effects of informal social participation on depression are different between men and women among middle-aged and senior citizens. Middle-aged and senior women are more likely to be depressed, but men can benefit more from informal social activities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Abdul Raheem ◽  
Hui J. Chih ◽  
Colin W. Binns

The aim of the study was to document perinatal depression in mothers in the Maldives and associated factors. A cohort of 458 mothers was recruited at the 2 major hospitals in Malé, the Maldives, and followed from 36 weeks of pregnancy to 3 months after birth. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure maternal depression. Maternal sociodemographic factors and infant’s health were also recorded. The prevalence of depressive symptoms (EPDS score ≥13) at 36 weeks of pregnancy and at 1 and 3 months postpartum were 24%, 27%, and 12%, respectively. Having experienced stressful life events is an established risk factor for maternal depression across these time points. Having depressive symptoms during the postpartum period is significantly associated with presence of antenatal depressive symptoms. Future studies may look into effectiveness of strategies that cope with stressors in the management of maternal depression.


Author(s):  
Ryota Watanabe ◽  
Katsunori Kondo ◽  
Tami Saito ◽  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Takahiro Hayashi ◽  
...  

Prevalence of depressive symptoms is lower in communities with greater social capital (SC). However, it is unclear whether a prevalence of depressive symptoms will decrease in communities where SC has increased. We investigated the relationship between the changes in municipality-level SC and depressive symptoms by using 5-year repeated cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. In 2010 and 2016, self-reported questionnaires were mailed to functionally independent residents aged 65 years or older living in 44 municipalities; valid responses were received from 72,718 and 84,211 people in 2010 and 2016, respectively. All scores were aggregated at the municipality level. The dependent variable was the change in the prevalence of depressive symptoms that were diagnosed with a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Independent variables were the score of change in health-related SC indicators, e.g., social participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. A multiple regression analysis was employed. The average prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased from 28.6% in 2010 to 21.3% in 2016. The increases in the percentages of sports group participation (B, −0.356), and reciprocity scores (B, −0.597) were significantly associated with the decrease in the prevalence of depressive symptoms after adjusting for potential confounding variables. Our findings suggest that community SC might be an intervention for protecting depressive symptoms in municipalities.


Cardiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiorenza Angela Meyer ◽  
Eva Hugentobler ◽  
Stefanie Stauber ◽  
Matthias Wilhelm ◽  
Hansjörg Znoj ◽  
...  

Objectives: Depression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We hypothesized that depressive symptoms at discharge from a cardiac rehabilitation program are associated with an increased risk of future CVD-related hospitalizations. Methods: We examined 486 CVD patients (mean age = 59.8 ± 11.2) who enrolled in a comprehensive 3-month rehabilitation program and completed the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D). At follow-up we evaluated the predictive value of depressive symptoms for CVD-related hospitalizations, controlling for sociodemographic factors, cardiovascular risk factors, and disease severity. Results: During a mean follow-up of 41.5 ± 15.6 months, 63 patients experienced a CVD-related hospitalization. The percentage of depressive patients (HADS-D ≥8) decreased from 16.9% at rehabilitation entry to 10.7% at discharge. Depressive symptoms at discharge from rehabilitation were a significant predictor of outcome (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09-1.60; p = 0.004). Patients with clinically relevant depressive symptoms at discharge had a 2.5-fold increased relative risk of poor cardiac prognosis compared to patients without clinically relevant depressive symptoms independently of other prognostic variables. Conclusion: In patients with CVD, depressive symptoms at discharge from rehabilitation indicated a poor cardiac prognosis.


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