Factors Related to Depressive Symptoms Among the Elderly in Urban and Rural Areas

Abstract

= ABSTRACT =Objectives: This study was performed to determine the levels of depression symptoms among the community elderlies and to reveal its related factors, specifically aimed at revealing psycho-social factors such as social support net-work, sense of self-esteem, state anxiety, interpersonal behavior trait and locus of control. Methods:The interviews were performed during the period from April 1st to June 30th, 2007 to the 790 elderlies in urban and rural areas. Results:The mean scores of depression (CES-D) among all subjects were 16.65±10.97(urban: 18.81±10.31, rural: 14.49±11.20) and they were higher in urban than rural. The level of depression symptoms was influenced by the variables of educational level, with or without spouse, bear for living expenses, sense of satisfaction in daily life. As for health related behaviors, they were influenced by the variables of with or without regular exercise. As for health status, they were influenced by the subjective health status, with or without disability of body, visual acuity, hearing ability, ability of food mastication, urinary incontinence, with or without help in activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL). As for social support net-work and social activities, they were influenced by number of offspring, frequency of offspring contents, frequency of going out and activity of hobbies. As for psycho-social factors, they were influenced by sense of self-esteem, state anxiety and social support, especially, the level of depression symptoms was higher influenced by the variables of psycho-social factors than other variables. Conclusions:Lower of the level of depression symptoms among the community elderlies would require development and application of programs to keep under management psycho-social factors as well as looking for ways to promoting the present health status.

Health behaviors influencing depressive symptoms in older Koreans living alone: secondary data analysis of the 2014 Korean longitudinal study of aging

“…However, some studies have reported a non-significant relationship between geriatric depression and drinking alcohol and smoking in different populations [ 9 , 38 , 41 ]. Interestingly, smoking and alcohol consumption show an inverse association with depressive symptoms in some Asian countries [ 14 , 41 , 42 ]. In Asian culture, smoking and alcohol consumption play a role in media when participating in social interaction.…”

Prevalence of the Major Mental Disorders among the Korean Elderly

“…Yet another study, which compared urban and rural populations, suggested that increased age, a low level of education, engaging in a manual occupation, and currently renting were independently associated with depression in urban area, while a low level of education was associated with depression in the rural sample ( 61 ). In a study of rural Jeju islanders, economic status, having a chronic physical illness, and a person's perceived health status were found to be significant risk factors of depression ( 62 ). Additional studies on specific populations also reflect these factors.…”

Comparisons of the prevalence of and risk factors for elderly depression between urban and rural populations in Japan

“…They indicated that social support and the lack of conflict in intimate relationships were associated with a lower prevalence of depression in all areas, although geographical differences in the prevalence of depression existed within the elderly population in the Canadian province of Quebec. In Asian countries, the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly was higher in urban than rural areas, and the level of depressive symptoms was influenced by the variables of level of education, being with or without spouse, ability to pay for living expenses, and sense of satisfaction in daily life in South Korea (Lee et al, 2008). In Taiwan, Chiu et al (2005) demonstrated that urban elderly persons had a relatively higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than rural elderly persons.…”