A Meta-Analysis of the Association between Leisure Participation and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults

Abstract Background: Depression remains an important health problem among older adults. Disorders in older age result from the accumulation of various factors, chief among them somatic diseases, stressful life events, social isolation, unfavorable social attitudes towards older people, declined cognitive function, malnutrition, polypharmacy. Depression may be associated with the deterioration of physical fitness, whose chief indicator is hand grip strength (HGS). The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between depression and HGS among older populations using the available literature. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Science Direct databases were searched. The inclusion criteria were as follows: written in English and published after 2009, subject age: ³60 years, HGS measured using a hand dynamometer, assessment of the depressive symptoms using a validated tool. The following articles were excluded: studies conducted among institutionalized subjects and/or populations with a specific disease. Results: The total combined effect of 33 results presented in 16 studies included in the meta-analysis, converted to the correlation coefficient, was OEr =-.148(SE = .030, 95%CI:-.206 – -.091), indicating a weak, negative correlation between HGS and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The review of the literature and the meta-analysis demonstrated a relationship between low muscle strength measured with the HGS test and intensified depressive symptoms in older populations. Bearing in mind that depression is often unrecognized or underdiagnosed among older patients, lowered muscle strength in older subjects, should be an important sign for physicians and physiotherapists and an incentive to screen them for depression.

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Commentary on “In search of the best evidence for life review therapy to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials”: Some thoughts on how life review reminiscence therapy can inform clinical theory and practice for both younger and older adults

Clinical Psychology Science and Practice ◽

10.1111/cpsp.12304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Victor Molinari

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Life Review ◽

Theory And Practice ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Clinical Theory ◽

Reminiscence Therapy ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Life Review Therapy

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Depressive symptoms prospectively predict cardiovascular disease among older adults: Findings from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105318782375 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (12) ◽

pp. 2006-2016

Author(s):

Emily AP Haigh ◽

Olivia E Bogucki ◽

Peter J Dearborn ◽

Michael A Robbins ◽

Merrill F Elias

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Disease Status ◽

Depression Status ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Prospective Association

A recent meta-analysis identified a prospective association between depression and cardiovascular disease; however, there was no association for studies with long-term follow-up periods. The literature has primarily focused on baseline depression status or symptoms, which may not capture the chronic nature of depression. This study examined the prospective relationship between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease up to 15 years later in 274 cardiovascular disease–free older adults. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, mean arterial pressure, and cardiovascular disease status were assessed. Baseline and chronic depressive symptoms predicted increased risk of cardiovascular disease, underscoring the importance of assessing and treating depression in older adults.

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Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and reduction of depressive symptoms in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2018.07.057 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 241 ◽

pp. 241-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Zheng-Gang Bai ◽

Ai Bo ◽

Si-Jie Wu ◽

Qiong-Yan Gai ◽

Iris Chi

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Omega 3

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Relationships between the neighborhood environment and depression in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s104161021700271x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 1153-1176 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Anthony Barnett ◽

Casper J. P. Zhang ◽

Janice M. Johnston ◽

Ester Cerin

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Collective Efficacy ◽

Economic Status ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Environmental Correlates ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Physical Attributes

ABSTRACTBackground:While depression is a growing public health issue, the percentage of individuals with depression receiving treatment is low. Physical and social attributes of the neighborhood may influence the level of depressive symptoms and the prevalence of depression in older adults.Methods:This review systematically examined the literature on neighborhood environmental correlates of depression in older adults. Findings were analyzed according to three depression outcomes: depressive symptoms, possible depression, and clinical depression. Based on their description in the article, environmental variables were assigned to one of 25 categories. The strength of evidence was statistically quantified using a meta-analytical approach with articles weighted for sample size and study quality. Findings were summarized by the number of positive, negative, and statistically non-significant associations by each combination of environmental attribute – depression outcome and by combining all depression outcomes.Results:Seventy-three articles met the selection criteria. For all depression outcomes combined, 12 of the 25 environmental attribute categories were considered to be sufficiently studied. Three of these, neighborhood socio-economic status, collective efficacy, and personal/crime-related safety were negatively associated with all depression outcomes combined. Moderating effects on associations were sparsely investigated, with 52 articles not examining any. Attributes of the physical neighborhood environment have been understudied.Conclusion:This review provides support for the potential influence of some neighborhood attributes on population levels of depression. However, further research is needed to adequately examine physical attributes associated with depression and moderators of both social and physical neighborhood environment attribute – depression outcome associations.

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Dog Visiting Programs for Managing Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Meta-analysis

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gny149 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marta Borgi ◽

Barbara Collacchi ◽

Alessandro Giuliani ◽

Francesca Cirulli

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis

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In search of the best evidence for life review therapy to reduce depressive symptoms in older adults: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Clinical Psychology Science and Practice ◽

10.1111/cpsp.12301 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gerben J. Westerhof ◽

Syl Slatman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Life Review ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Life Review Therapy

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The Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy on Alleviating Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.709853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Zhuo Liu ◽

Fan Yang ◽

Yifan Lou ◽

Wei Zhou ◽

Feng Tong

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Future Studies ◽

Reminiscence Therapy ◽

Group Reminiscence

Objective: Depression is one of the most common problems faced by older adults. Reminiscence therapy, defined as using the recall of past events, feelings, and thoughts facilitating pleasure, is one type of psychotherapy that could alleviate depressive feelings among older adults, improve their quality of life, and help them live independently. Reminiscence therapy originated from geriatric psychiatry, and is an effective non-pharmacological intervention that could be structured or unstructured and be conducted individually or in a group. The current systematic review was designed to summarize and review existing evidence on the effect of reminiscence therapy on depression in older adults.Methods: We conducted a systematic review from January 2000 to Mar 2021 using 10 electronic databases in English and Chinese languages, including Medline, Embase, Cinahl, PsychInfo, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, CNKI, and WANFANG. We excluded studies that didn't use randomized controlled trials (RCT) from the meta-analysis. The selected studies were scored using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The RevMan 5.0 was used in subgroup analysis depending on how the interventions were classified.Results: We extracted 527 studies based on keyword searches, of which 10 RCTs met inclusion criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis yielded high heterogeneity, and the analyses of significant subgroups showed that reminiscence therapy has a significant effect on relieving depressive symptoms in older adults. Reminiscence therapy benefits older adults with chronic illness and those on antidepressants as well. The effect and cost-effectiveness of group reminiscence therapy were higher than individual reminiscence therapy. And some specific types of group reminiscence therapy have a significant effect on improving depression and secondary outcomes, including life satisfaction. Although the effectiveness of structured and unstructured group reminiscence on depression has no significant differences according to current evidence, the structured therapy is more replicable, generalizable, and user-friendly due to its detailed protocol for new therapists. Furthermore, reminiscence therapy is more effective for older women and older adults with more severe depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Reminiscence therapy significantly increased older adults' remission from depression and quality of life immediately after the intervention. However, the evidence-based protocol and implementation of reminiscence interventions need to be further developed and standardized to facilitate global use. Moreover, it remains unclear on the long-term effect of reminiscence therapy. Based on the limitations of the current study, more rigorous evidence is needed from studies with large sample sizes, RCT design, and longer follow-up periods. Future studies could also explore the effect of different types of reminiscence therapy. Furthermore, qualitative data should be included to better understand older adults' narrative and experiences with reminiscence therapy. Future studies could also investigate the impact of reminiscence therapy on older relatives as a part of outcome measure to explore the efficacious mechanism of reminiscence therapy in alleviating older adults' depressive symptoms.

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