Abstract
BackgroundGeriatric depression is associated with the overall quality of life (QOL). However, how depressive symptoms affect the different domains and facets of QOL in older adults, and whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between physical disability and QOL in older adults are unclear.MethodsA total of 490 ambulatory community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or above were interviewed using the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Sequential models for multiple linear regressions were analysed to determine if the MBI, GDS-15 and MMSE scores predict the WHOQOL-BREF scores. The potential mediation effects of depression (as determined by the GDS-15) on the relationship between MBI and WHOQOL-BREF were also analysed.ResultsThe GDS-15 score was predictive of the scores of the four domains and all 26 facets of the WHOQOL-BREF. The significant predictive effects of the MBI score on 15 of the 26 facets of the WHOQOL-BREF were reduced to three after the adjustment for the GDS-15 score. Depression (as assessed by the GDS-15) is a mediator of the relationship between MBI and the physical, psychological and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF.ConclusionsDepression (assessed by the GDS-15) may affect the scores of every domain and all facets of the WHOQOL-BREF in the elderly. Furthermore, it may mediate the relationship between the MBI and on QOL scores. We recommend taking depressive symptoms into consideration when measuring community-dwelling older adults’ QOL and providing active ageing programs.
Highlights
Geriatric depression is an important public health issue
The GDS-15 score was predictive of the scores of the four domains and all 26 facets of the WHOQOL-BREF
Depression may affect the scores of every domain and all facets of the WHOQOL-BREF in the elderly. It may mediate the relationship between the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and on quality of life (QOL) scores
Summary
The average prevalence of depressive symptoms has been reported to be 13.5% among people who are 55 years or older [1]. In addition to affecting the overall condition of QOL, depression influences different facets of the different domains of QOL. A previous study showed that depression affects every facet of the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality Of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) measurement in healthy workers[8]. It is less clear how depressive symptoms affect the QOL domains and facets in older people who are generally retired from work. How depressive symptoms affect the different domains and facets of QOL in older adults, and whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between physical disability and QOL in older adults are unclear
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