Association between self-care disability and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people

Abstract

Objective In the context of an increased focus on geriatric depression in recent years, this study examined the associations between different types of self-care disability, the number of self-care disabilities, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people. Method The data for this study were extracted from the follow-up survey (conducted in 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The sample comprised 10808 participants aged 45 years and older. The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CESD-10) Scale were used to assess self-care disability and depressive symptoms, respectively. Result The prevalence of depressive symptoms and self-care disability among the surveyed residents was 45.1% and 23.4%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant positive association between self-care disability and depressive symptoms. Participants who reported having a self-care disability in relation dressing, bathing, transferring in and out of bed, using the toilet, and controlling urination and defecation were found to have a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms. In addition, participants with a greater cumulative quantity of self-care disabilities had a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and higher CESD-10 scores. Conclusion Self-care disability is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people. A positive correlation between the number of self-care disabilities and the risk of depressive symptoms was found.

Determining the association between different living arrangements and depressive symptoms among over-65-year-old people: The moderating role of outdoor activities

“…Therefore, the years of schooling were divided into 0 years (illiterate), 1 to 9 years (elementary school or middle school), and over 10 years (high school and above), according to the length of different learning stages. Previous studies found that individuals with higher levels of education have a lower risk of depressive symptoms ( 28 , 29 ).…”

“…In all individuals with a disability, difficulty completing 1–2 activities, 3–4 activities, and 5–6 activities were considered mild, moderate, and severe disability, respectively. Our previous study found that individuals with higher levels of disability were at greater risk of depressive symptoms ( 29 ). The Cronbach's αvalue was 0.908, indicating a reasonable reliability level.…”

The relationship between walking ability, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and elderly people after controlling demographic, health status, and lifestyle variables

“…[17] A study found a positive correlation between the number of self-care disorders and the risk of depressive symptoms. [18] Another study found that regular and appropriate outdoor activities among elderly people can reduce the risk of depression. [19] However, the amount of research evidence on the impact of walking ability and self-assessment of health on depression is limited, and the scientific quality of various studies varies.…”

“…[17] A study found a positive correlation between the number of self-care disorders and the risk of depressive symptoms. [18] Another study found that regular and appropriate outdoor…”

Association between subjective cognitive complaints, balance impairment and disability among middle‐aged and older adults: Evidence from a population‐based cohort study

“…People with disabilities can be at a greater risk for falling, hospitalization and death 1 . It is estimated that more than 20% of middle‐aged and older adults (i.e., ≥45 years old) have disabilities in 2018 2 . The greater risk of disability among middle‐aged and older adults is potentially because many middle‐aged and older adults have multiple co‐occurring age‐related disorders, such as the declined cognitive and physical functions.…”