Citation

Lin CY, Kim B, Liao Y, Park JH. Psychol. Res. Behav. Manag. 2019; 12: 641-650.

Affiliation

Health Convergence Medicine Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Dove Press)

DOI

10.2147/PRBM.S214524

PMID

31496848

PMCID

PMC6691963

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Previous investigations on factors associated with depression were highly focused on personal characteristics and health behaviors; however, few studies used an ecological perspective on the issue, much less on sex differences. This study examined the factors associated with depression, including any sex differences.

METHODS: A total of 1025 Taiwanese adults older than 65 years were recruited. Their personal demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and perceived environmental factors were obtained through a telephone-based survey. The multiple factors associated with depression in older adults were examined using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: Fully logistic regression analyses revealed that poor self-rated health (odds ratio =2.54) was correlated with a greater likelihood of depression. Aside from poor self-rated health, being older, sufficient leisure time spent in walking, and perceptions of a safe environment were associated with lower risks of depression in older men, whereas having hypertension and excessive TV viewing were associated with higher risks of depression in older women.

CONCLUSION: Apart from self-rated health, sex differences in the associations of factors such as leisure-time walking, TV watching, and safe traffic environment with depression were observed among older adults. Strategies applied for geriatric depression prevention should take into consideration different sex group.

Language: en

Keywords

geriatric depression; multiple factors; older adults