Assessing the Impact of a Hilly Environment on Depressive Symptoms among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Although some neighborhood environmental factors have been found to affect depressive symptoms, few studies have focused on the impact of living in a hilly environment, i.e., land slope, on depressive symptoms among rural older adults. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether a land slope is associated with depressive symptoms among older adults living in rural areas. Data were collected from 935 participants, aged 65 years and older, who lived in Shimane prefecture, Japan. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and defined on the basis of an SDS score ≥ 40. Land slopes within a 400 m network buffer were assessed using geographic information systems. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of depressive symptoms were estimated using logistic regression. A total of 215 (23.0%) participants reported depressive symptoms. The land slope was positively associated with depressive symptoms (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01–1.08) after adjusting for all confounders. In a rural setting, living in a hillier environment was associated with depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

Environmental Factors Affecting Cognitive Function among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study

“…This longitudinal four-year follow-up study was conducted using data collected as part of the Shimane CoHRE Study in Shimane Prefecture. It targeted lifestyle-related diseases through the collection of data concerning medical history, lifestyle, and cognitive function during annual municipal health examinations [13][14][15][16].…”

Residents of Mountainous Areas Have a Higher Low Back Pain Prevalence Than Flat Areas of Chongqing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“… 8 A study also showed that rural mountain residents walked up and down steep slopes on a daily basis, which increased the mechanical load on their bodies and may lead to musculoskeletal disorders such as knee and low back pain. 9 Therefore, this study hypothesized that the prevalence of LBP and associated factors in mountainous areas would be different from those in flat areas due to their various topographical characteristics, labor characteristics, and residents’ lifestyles. In addition, the geographical constraints of mountainous areas lead to limited transportation, relative economic backwardness, and scarce medical resources.…”