@article{ref1,
title="Risk factors for depression in empty nesters: a cross-sectional study in a coastal city of Zhejiang Province and China",
journal="International journal of environmental research and public health",
year="2019",
author="Yao, Yecheng and Ding, Gangqiang and Wang, Liaoliao and Jin, Ye and Lin, Jianwei and Zhai, Yujia and Zhang, Tao and He, Fan and Fan, Weigang",
volume="16",
number="21",
pages="e16214106-e16214106",
abstract="The elderly are susceptible to depression, especially empty nesters. This study investigated the risk factors associated with depression in empty nesters. The participants were selected via multi-stage random cluster sampling. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale. The questionnaire surveyed demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, behaviors and lifestyles, negative life experiences, social support, self-care ability, etc. Chronic health conditions, such as being overweight/obese, smoking cessation, cancer, and chronic pain, as well as negative life experiences, such as the death of a loved one and financial loss, increased the risk of depression in empty nesters. In addition, the incapability of performing self-care also increased the risk of depression in empty nesters. The prevalence of depression in empty nesters was high. Being overweight/obese, cancer, chronic pain, smoking cessation, the death of a loved one, financial loss, and the incapability to deliver self-care were risk factors for depression in empty nesters. It is recommended that comprehensive measures be taken to enhance health interventions for this population, including encouraging a proper diet and physical activity for weight control, providing psychological counseling after negative life experiences, and teaching correct methods of smoking cessation.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-7827",
doi="10.3390/ijerph16214106",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214106"
}