Hongyan Lin1, Mengdi Jin1, Qian Liu1, Yue Du2, Jingzhu Fu1, Changqing Sun3, Fei Ma4, Wen Li1, Huan Liu1, Xumei Zhang1, Yun Zhu4, Yongjie Chen4, Zhuoyu Sun4, Guangshun Wang5, Guowei Huang1, Jing Yan6. 1. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, China. 2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, China; Department of Social Medicine and Health Administration, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. 3. Neurosurgical Department of Baodi Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. 4. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. 5. Department of Tumour, Baodi Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. 6. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environment, Nutrition and Public Health, Tianjin, China; Department of Social Medicine and Health Administration, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: yanjing@tmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: With an aging population, late-life depression has been a major health problem in rural China. This study aims to explore the gender-specific prevalence of geriatric depression in rural Tianjin, its influencing factors, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of depression in the elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 4,933 elderly individuals in rural Tianjin was conducted using the cluster sampling method. The independent samples t-test and chi-squared test were used to assess differences in participants' characteristics by depressive symptoms, while multiple linear regressions and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the potential influencing factors of depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of geriatric depression was found to be 12.2% in the study participants (9.5% in men and 14.5% in women). Gender, education, household income, employment, living alone, social activities, physical exercise and chronic diseases were associated with depression (P<0.05). In addition to the above factors, sleep duration was also related with scores on self-rating depression scale (P<0.05). LIMITATIONS: The study used a cross-sectional approach, so causation cannot be concluded. CONCLUSIONS: Late-life depression is a serious mental health issue in rural China, highlighting the importance of appropriate diagnosis and treatment as a priority to improve the quality of mental health.
BACKGROUND: With an aging population, late-life depression has been a major health problem in rural China. This study aims to explore the gender-specific prevalence of geriatric depression in rural Tianjin, its influencing factors, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and intervention of depression in the elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 4,933 elderly individuals in rural Tianjin was conducted using the cluster sampling method. The independent samples t-test and chi-squared test were used to assess differences in participants' characteristics by depressive symptoms, while multiple linear regressions and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the potential influencing factors of depression. RESULTS: The prevalence of geriatric depression was found to be 12.2% in the study participants (9.5% in men and 14.5% in women). Gender, education, household income, employment, living alone, social activities, physical exercise and chronic diseases were associated with depression (P<0.05). In addition to the above factors, sleep duration was also related with scores on self-rating depression scale (P<0.05). LIMITATIONS: The study used a cross-sectional approach, so causation cannot be concluded. CONCLUSIONS: Late-life depression is a serious mental health issue in rural China, highlighting the importance of appropriate diagnosis and treatment as a priority to improve the quality of mental health.