The relationship between socioeconomic status and depression among the older adults: The mediating role of health promoting lifestyle

Niu

Journal of Healthcare Engineering

2021

As the aging continues, China has become the country with the largest older population. In order to ensure the well-being of older adults in their later years, the whole society is increasingly concerned about the mental health of older adults. In 2019, we conduct a questionnaire survey in Shaanxi Province. Stratified random sampling is used to select three representative cities, and 677 samples are selected from the survey results for research. By using the structural equation model, we aim to reveal the mechanism of leisure activities’ influence on mental health of the older adults and verify whether social support and perceived stress play a mediating role. The study finds that the older adults’ leisure activities have no significant direct impact on mental health. Social support has a significant mediating effect between leisure activities and mental health of the older adults. Leisure activities indirectly affect the mental health of the older adults through social support, and participation in leisure activities can improve the social support of the older adults, thus improving the mental health level of the older adults. Perceived stress plays a significant mediating role between leisure activities and mental health of the older adults. By participating in leisure activities, the perceived stress of the older adults will be reduced, thus improving their mental health. Social support and perceived stress play a sufficient mediating role in the influence of leisure activities on mental health.

Section: Hypothesis and Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mental health is the pillar of physical health. If older adults do not have a healthy state of mind and emotion, the body may be reduced or lose its function, leading to diseases [ 12 ], and even affecting the life of older adults. Leisure activities have always been an important part of human life and development [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Leisure Activities on the Mental Health of Older Adults: The Mediating Effect of Social Support and Perceived Stress

Niu

Journal of Healthcare Engineering

2021

“…The CHARLS questionnaire inquired about individuals' engagement in 10 social activities throughout the previous month. There were 12 possible answers to this question: (1) interacted with friends, (2) played mahjong, chess, or cards, or attended a community club, (3) assisted family, friends, or neighbors who did not live with them, (4) attended sports, social, or other kinds of clubs, (5) participated in a community-related organization, (6) did voluntary or charity work, (7) cared for a sick or impaired adult who did not live with them, (8) attended an educational or training course, (9) invested in stocks, (10) utilized the Internet, (11) other, or (12) none of these in the last month. Based on the mainstream social participation classification (7,22), in this study, we examined four types of formal social participation: (1) social groups: interacted with friends, (2) hobby groups: played mahjong, chess, or cards or went to a community club; (3) sports groups: went to sports, social, or other kinds of clubs; and (4) community-related organizations: took part in a community-related organization.…”

Section: Social Participationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depression, one of the most frequent psychiatric illnesses, affects around 7% of the world's older population ( 1 ). According to a meta-analysis, the incidence of depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults aged 60 or above is as high as 22.7 %, with more than 90% not receiving quick and regular treatment ( 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Different Type and Frequency of Social Participation on Depressive Symptoms Among Older Chinese Adults: Is There a Gender Difference?

et al. 2021

Self Cite

Objectives: Social participation may prevent depressive symptoms in older adults. But research to date ignores gender differences in the associations between social participation and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different type and frequency of social participation on depressive symptoms, as well as if there is a gender difference in these correlations among older Chinese adults.Methods: Data was obtained from adults aged 60 years or above in the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, a nationally representative sample of older adults in China. Depressive symptoms were measured using CESD-10. Social participation included participation in social groups, hobby groups, sports groups, and community-related organizations. The independent relationships between each type of social participation and depressive symptoms were assessed using multiple linear regression models.Results: A total of 6,287 older adults were included in this analysis, of whom 49.69% were women. Participating in social groups, sports groups, and community-related organizations with a frequency of one or more per week was all linked to better mental health. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the positive relationship between participation in social groups, hobby groups, and community-related organizations and depressive symptoms is more flexible for older men than for women.Conclusions: Older individuals who participate in social participation at a high frequency may have better mental health. The findings provide novel insights into mental health from the standpoint of social participation in older adults. Gender differences in the associations between social participation and depressive symptoms need to be considered when formulating interventions to prevent depression.

“…Another aspect that this research aims to address is the relationship between the practice of physical activity and social and health services. It draws attention to the need to increase the practice of physical activity because it also helps to reduce drug use, improves self-esteem, generates a lower risk of dependence [22], and mitigates depression among older people [23]. Despite these benefits, on this occasion, studies on older women practicing physical activity and the influence of social and health services have not been found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Practice of Vigorous Physical Activity Is Related to a Higher Educational Level and Income in Older Women

Zapata-Lamana

Poblete-Valderrama

Cigarroa

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Few studies have shown evidence about the factors that can determine physical practice in women over 60 years of age due to educational, economic, social, or health inequalities. Its knowledge could help to understand the determinants that encourage the practice of physical activity and the improvement of health in women over 60. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the level of studies, income, and the usefulness of social and health services in physically active older women according to the level of activity they practice. The IPAQ (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and CUBRECAVI (subjective health scale) scales have been applied to a sample of 257 women between 61 and 93 years old (M = 69.44, SD = 4.61). The results have shown that those with vigorous physical activity are related to higher levels of education (p < 0.001) and income (p = 0.004). Furthermore, being dissatisfied with social and health services is associated with low levels of physical activity (p = 0.005). Older women who perform physical activity regularly are associated with high levels in some of the socio-environmental aspects of quality of life. High physical activity is related to a higher educational level and income. Socio-environmental factors generate social inequalities and modulate the lifestyles of older women.