scholarly journals An analysis of social participation and depression in middle-aged and senior citizens in China: A fixed-effect analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqun Chen ◽  
Zhongsheng Hua ◽  
Xiaoli Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Fixed Effect ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Males And Females

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.

scholarly journals The Impact of Work Hours on Depressive Symptoms among Koreans Aged 45 and Over

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 853
Author(s):  
Juyeong Kim ◽  
Eun-Cheol Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Impact

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.

scholarly journals Saving fall-injured older adults from depressive symptoms: The mediating role of social participation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 867-868
Author(s):  
Yalu Zhang ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Jiling Sun ◽  
Xinhui Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Fixed Effect ◽  
Second Primary ◽  
Fall Injuries ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Multiple Levels

Abstract Falls are the second primary cause of unintentional injury deaths globally. Prior studies found that fall incidences are associated with depressive symptoms among older adults, which could reversely lead to repeated fall incidences. However, few have investigated the role of social interventions in saving fall-injured older adults from experiencing depressive symptoms among older adults. Using the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011-2018 data and multiple levels of fixed-effect analysis, this study examined the potential mediating role of social participation in alternating the effect of fall injuries on depressive symptoms. For the first time, this study specified the fall-injured older adults among those who had fall incidences. It also implemented the current literature by removing the bias caused by unobservable confounding variables at provincial and city levels. The descriptive results show that 22.2% and 20.6% of rural (n=4,972) and urban (n=3,258) older adults (65+), respectively, experienced fall incidences, among whom 45.1% needed one or more times of medical treatment. The fixed-effect results show that for urban older adults, social participation accounted for partial effects (17.2%) of fall injuries on their depressive symptoms. For rural older adults, fall injuries are significantly associated with more depressive symptoms, but social participation no longer functions as the mediator. Findings from this study emphasize the necessity of collecting efforts from multiple levels to improve the social engagement of urban older adults who had fall injuries. Future studies could further specify what types of social participation would be more helpful in buffering the intervention effects.

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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiho Kino ◽  
Daisuke Nishioka ◽  
Keiko Ueno ◽  
Maho Haseda ◽  
Naoki Kondo
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Public Assistance ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Older Recipients

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.

Impacts of Internet Use on Senior Citizens’ Depressive Symptoms in China: Urban-Rural Differences (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Sun ◽  
Yuxiang Chris Zhao ◽  
Xiaofeng Tao ◽  
Junjie Zhou ◽  
Qianqian Liu
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Propensity Score Matching ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Difference In Difference ◽  
Urban Rural

BACKGROUND Although existing studies report that Internet use can help senior citizens coping with depressive symptoms, so far limited studies have explored the impacts of Internet use on urban and rural senior citizens’ depression symptoms. OBJECTIVE This study aims to address the above gap and explore the impacts of Internet use on urban and rural senior citizens’ depressive symptoms in China. METHODS We use the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We use the panel-data regression to examine the relationship between Internet use and depression. In order to obtain robust evidence, we built a treatment group by selecting senior citizens who did not use the Internet in 2013 (Wave 2) but did use it in 2015 (Wave 4), and a control group by selecting senior citizens who did not use the Internet in either Wave based on the propensity score matching (PSM) approach. We then examined the impacts of Internet use with linear regression analysis based on the difference-in-difference (DID) approach. RESULTS The empirical results indicate that Internet use could significantly alleviate rural senior citizens’ depression (β=-2.187, P=.006). The Frequency of Online have consistent effect on depression (β= -1.091, P=.001). In addition, the impacts of Internet use on rural senior citizens’ three specific depressive symptoms are significant (“I had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing”, β= -0.537, P=.008; “I felt depressed”, β= -0.315, P=.014; “I felt everything I did was an effort”, β= -0.355, P=.021). The propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis is consistent with the results of panel date regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS Urban-rural differences exist in the impacts of Internet use on senior citizens’ depressive symptoms. Rural senior citizens’ depressive symptoms can be alleviated by Internet use and the frequency of Internet use. Policy makers should provide rural senior citizens more opportunities to access the Internet and more Internet-skill trainings to enable them to better utilize the Internet.

scholarly journals Mobile Intervention Outcomes Compared Pre and Post-Shelter-in-Place for Middle Aged and Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 861-861
Author(s):  
Chalise Carlson ◽  
Ana Alfaro ◽  
Christina Chick ◽  
Martha Bruce ◽  
Valerie Forman Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Behavioral Skills ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Health Quality

Abstract The Meru Health Program (MHP), a mobile app-based intervention targeting depressive symptoms, teaches mindfulness and cognitive behavioral skills through video lessons and practices. MHP includes integrated asynchronous therapist and peer support. Our aim was to examine whether using the MHP reduced loneliness and improved mental health quality of life (QoL) in middle-aged and older adults with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionairre-9 [PHQ-9] ≥ 7). The timing of this study partially overlapped with the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic resulting in California’s shelter-in-place (SIP) orders. Fifty participants (42 enrolled prior to SIP) completed baseline assessments with a mean age of 57.06 (SD = 11.26; Range: 40-81 years) exhibiting mild to moderate depression symptoms (PHQ-9: M = 12.28, SD = 5.47). Participants enrolled pre-SIP exhibited significant improvements in QoL, F(1,38) = 12.61, p = .001, η2 = .25, and significant declines in loneliness, F(1,38) = 5.42, p = .03, η2 = .13. Improvements in QoL were found for post-SIP participants as well, F(1,44) = 6.02, p = .02, η2 = .12. In contrast, loneliness did not improve for the post-SIP cohort, perhaps alluding to the increased impact of social isolation during SIP. Our findings indicate MHP can improve QoL symptoms before and during SIP. It is possible that middle-aged and older individuals may require more individualized support during SIP to help alleviate loneliness when social connection is severely restricted. MHP remains a promising and scalable solution for those middle-aged and older adults struggling with mental health symptoms.

scholarly journals Negative Marital Quality, Purpose in Life, and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Couples

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 498-498
Author(s):  
Elliane Irani ◽  
Sumin Park ◽  
Ronald Hickman
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Purpose In Life ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Older Couples ◽  
Sense Of Purpose

Abstract Negative marital quality is associated with poor health outcomes. Purpose in life can serve as a psychological resource to buffer the stressors experienced from a negative marital relationship. Yet, the associations among negative martial quality, a person’s level of purpose in life, and depressive symptoms have not been fully explored in a dyadic context. We examined the actor (intra-individual) and partner (cross-spousal) effects of negative marital quality on depressive symptoms in couples and the potential mediating role of purpose in life. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze cross-sectional data on middle-aged and older married, heterosexual couples (N=1,235) who participated in the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. The final model had an acceptable fit to the data (TLI=.963, RMSEA=.040, SRMR=.038). At the actor level, negative relationship quality was positively associated with depressive symptom severity, and purpose in life mediated the relationship in wives and husbands. At the partner level, wives had more depressive symptoms when husbands reported higher negative marital quality. Comparatively, husbands had less depressive symptoms when their wives indicated a greater sense of purpose. Husbands also had a lower purpose in life when their wives had higher states of negative marital quality. This study highlights the psychological benefits of allaying negative perceptions of marital quality and enhancing the sense of purpose in middle-aged and older couples. The results support a focus on dyadic approaches to improve the psychological health, and potentially, the physical health status of middle-aged and older couples.

scholarly journals The Association of Grip Strength with Depressive Symptoms among Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Different Chronic Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 6942
Author(s):  
Priscila Marconcin ◽  
Miguel Peralta ◽  
Gerson Ferrari ◽  
Margarida Gaspar de Matos ◽  
Margarida Espanha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Aged

Low grip strength has been associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, independent of age group or gender, although the literature has not investigated this association among different chronic diseases. The present study aims to investigate the association of grip strength and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults with different chronic diseases. A cross-section of data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe wave 6 (collected in 2015) was analysed. Grip strength was measured by a handgrip dynamometer, and the European Depression Symptoms 12-item scale (EURO-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. Those in the high strength tertile had 42% (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 0.71; p < 0.005) and 41% (95% confidence interval: 0.50, 0.70; p < 0.001) lower odds of depressive symptoms in the ‘no disease’ and in the ‘metabolic diseases’ groups of participants, respectively, compared with those in the lower strength tertile. No statistically significant relationship between grip strength and depression was observed in the ‘arthritis diseases’ group of participants. The association of grip strength with depressive symptoms must consider, besides gender and age group, the chronic conditions that an individual could have.

scholarly journals Social Participation and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Retirees

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 442-442
Author(s):  
Ziyao Xu ◽  
Na Sun
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract With the rapid growth of the older population in China, the number of retirees is expanding. The retirement transition can lead to the loss of roles/challenge self-identity, increasing the risk of depression. Social participation may have a protective role in the context of retirement. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms among Chinese retirees. Using cross-sectional data from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), we investigated 1949 retirees (Mean age = 66.11, SD=0.37). Social engagement was measured by summing participation in 10 social activities (e.g., interacting with friends, volunteering). Depressive symptoms were measured using the CESD-10; a score ≥ 10 was used to define depression. Participants, on average, engaged in 1.42 (SD=0.06) social activities and 16.8% of them had depression. Results of logistic regression indicate a significant relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms (p=0.014). For every additional social activity, the odds of depression decreased by 17%, holding age, gender, marital status, education, total income, and numbers of chronic diseases constant. Social activity is associated with depression among Chinese retirees. Future studies should explore the effects of specific types of activities on the mental health of Chinese retirees.

Health Status of Senior Citizens: A Cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Beniwal ◽  
Chandrakala Singh
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Poor Health Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Average Health

Aging is a series of processes that begin with life and continue throughout the lifecycle. It represents the closing period in the lifespan, a time when the individual looks back on life, lives on past accomplishments and begins to finish off his life course. It represents the accumulation of changes in person over time. The study aims to investigate the health status of senior citizens. The present study was carried out in Hisar and Sirsa district of Haryana state. A total of 400 elderly equally representing both males and females of age group 65-70 years were selected randomly for the study. Modified inventory developed by Khan and Lal (2011) was used to assess health status of senior citizens. The results of the study elucidated that health status of senior citizens depicted that 54.25 per cent of the total respondents had average health status followed by good (25.25%) and poor health status (20.50%). The most common health problems reported by the senior citizens were joint pains, back pains, blood pressure, and chest pain etc. Gender wise comparison of total sample further pointed out that females were poor in their health against males.

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