Pao-Chen Lin1, Hsiu-Hung Wang. 1. Department of Nursing, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the risk factors that correlated with depressive symptoms among elders living alone. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was implemented. The sample consisted of 117 women and 75 men aged 65 and older who living alone in Tainan, Taiwan. The Chinese version of Center for Epidemiological Studies Depressive Symptoms Scale was adopted to assess depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the risk factors of depressive symptoms in the elderly women and men living alone. RESULTS: Results of this study showed that the elderly women had a 1.6-fold greater prevalence of depressive symptoms than did men. Women who were aged 85 and above, and less social support, had a significantly higher occurrence rate of depressive symptoms. The risk factors for depressive symptoms in elderly men living alone included educational level, religious beliefs, self-rated health status, number of chronic illnesses, and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should reflect the sex difference on risk factors of depressive symptoms when planning mental health services for the elderly population.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the risk factors that correlated with depressive symptoms among elders living alone. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was implemented. The sample consisted of 117 women and 75 men aged 65 and older who living alone in Tainan, Taiwan. The Chinese version of Center for Epidemiological Studies Depressive Symptoms Scale was adopted to assess depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were employed to determine the risk factors of depressive symptoms in the elderly women and men living alone. RESULTS: Results of this study showed that the elderly women had a 1.6-fold greater prevalence of depressive symptoms than did men. Women who were aged 85 and above, and less social support, had a significantly higher occurrence rate of depressive symptoms. The risk factors for depressive symptoms in elderly men living alone included educational level, religious beliefs, self-rated health status, number of chronic illnesses, and social support. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should reflect the sex difference on risk factors of depressive symptoms when planning mental health services for the elderly population.
Authors: Franziska Förster; Melanie Luppa; Alexander Pabst; Kathrin Heser; Luca Kleineidam; Angela Fuchs; Michael Pentzek; Hanna Kaduszkiewicz; Carolin van der Leeden; André Hajek; Hans-Helmut König; Anke Oey; Birgitt Wiese; Edelgard Mösch; Dagmar Weeg; Siegfried Weyerer; Jochen Werle; Wolfgang Maier; Martin Scherer; Michael Wagner; Steffi G Riedel-Heller Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-29 Impact factor: 3.390