Participation in Physical, Social, and Religious Activity and Risk of Depression in the Elderly: A Community-Based Three-Year Longitudinal Study in Korea

Abstract

BackgroundWe examined the longitudinal association between participation in individual or combinations of physical, social, and religious activity and risk of depression in the elderly.MethodsElderly subjects aged ≥60 years who completed the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea (n = 6,647) were included. The baseline assessment, Wave 1, was conducted in 2008, and a follow-up assessment, Wave 2, was conducted in 2011. We defined participation in frequent physical activity as ≥3 times weekly (at least 30 minutes per activity). Frequent participation in social and religious activity was defined as ≥1 activity weekly. The primary outcome was depression at 3-year follow up.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis showed that subjects who participated in frequent physical, social, and religious activity had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.96), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.75–1.00), and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.67–0.90), respectively, compared with participants who did not participate in each activity. Participants who participated in only one type of activity frequently and participants who participated in two or three types of activities frequently had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–0.98) and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.52–0.79), respectively, compared with participants who did not participate in any type of physical, social, and religious activity frequently.ConclusionParticipation in physical, social, and religious activity was associated with decreased risk of depression in the elderly. In addition, risk of depression was much lower in the elderly people who participated in two or three of the above-mentioned types of activity than that in the elderly who did not.

Types of social participation and psychological distress in Japanese older adults: A five-year cohort study

“…Previous studies have shown that older adults’ social participation is associated beneficially with mental health [13, 14], as well as quality of life (QOL) [15], cognitive functioning [16], lower mortality [17] and morbidity [18]. Several studies have found that active engagement in volunteering, religious activities, and clubs are associated with better mental health and reduced levels of depressive symptoms [14, 19–21]. Furthermore, it is reported that the impact of social participation on mental health differs by gender [22–24]; one study, for example, indicates that frequent participation at church is related to low prevalence of depressive symptoms in older women, while the opposite relationship was found in older men [22].…”

Behavioral protective factors of increased depressive symptoms in community‐dwelling older adults: A prospective cohort study

“…Social activities are, by definition, carried out with others (interaction between the person and the social environment) . Previous studies suggest that participation in social activities, such as relationships with friends, or fellow inmates at the senior center, protects against depressive symptoms . Social activities affect mental health through various mechanisms, including stimulating bodily systems, helping a person to cope with difficulties, and reinforcing an individual's attachment to other psychosocial resources such as social support .…”

“…19 Previous studies suggest that participation in social activities, such as relationships with friends, or fellow inmates at the senior center, protects against depressive symptoms. 20,21 Social activities affect mental health through various mechanisms, including stimulating bodily systems, helping a person to cope with difficulties, and reinforcing an individual's attachment to other psychosocial resources such as social support. 22 On the other hand, a longitudinal study conducted across 10 European countries reported that participation in political or community organizations was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms 4 years later.…”

Depressive symptoms and all‐cause mortality in Korean older adults: A 3‐year population‐based prospective study

“…The present study was carried out using data from the 2008 and 2011 Living Profiles of Older People Survey, which was initiated in 2008 as a nationwide 3‐year interval longitudinal survey in Korea. Details of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey design are described elsewhere . In brief, the survey used stratified two‐stage cluster sampling.…”

“…Details of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey design are described elsewhere. 9 In brief, the survey used stratified two-stage cluster sampling. The primary sampling unit was based on the 2005 census frame, with secondary sampling units consisting of households with older residents.…”