Abstract
Physical housing environment and living arrangements are significant determinants of health, particularly in developing countries, although results are mixed. We conducted this study to examine the gender differences in geriatric depressive symptoms in rural China, and further explored the influence of housing environments and living arrangements on depressive symptoms. The data used for this study were from the third wave of the nationally representative China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) survey in 2015; a total of 2056 females and 2529 males were included in this study. According to the analysis findings, 46.15% of the respondents had depressive symptoms based on the CES-D, with a statistically significant gender difference of 54.32% in females and 39.50% in males. Logistic Regression findings identified that with regard to the items of physical housing environments, toilets without seats (OR = 1.349) and the unavailability of bathing facilities (OR = 1.469) were statistically associated with depressive symptoms among male participants, whereas for female participants the use of polluting fuels (OR = 1.248) and living arrangements (i.e., living with children, OR = 1.430) was statistically associated with depressive symptoms. Statistically significant gender differences were found for having shower or bath facilities and our findings underscored that physical housing environments and living arrangements were associated with depressive symptoms for both genders. Moreover, the study revealed that a slight gender difference exists in terms of geriatric depression in rural China. Females are more likely to become depressed than their male counterparts with the same characteristics.
Highlights
Ageing is one of the most conspicuous phenomena in the contemporary world
46.15% of the respondents had depressive symptoms based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), with a statistically significant gender difference of 54.32% in females and 39.50% in males
Our study examined the gender differences in geriatric depressive symptoms in rural China, and further explored the influence of housing environments and living arrangements on depressive symptoms
Summary
Ageing is one of the most conspicuous phenomena in the contemporary world. Between 2015 and2050, the proportion of the world’s adults that is elderly is estimated to almost double from about 12%to 22% [1]. Ageing is one of the most conspicuous phenomena in the contemporary world. 2050, the proportion of the world’s adults that is elderly is estimated to almost double from about 12%. There will be an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60 [2]. While ageing is a global phenomenon, it is progressing fastest in developing countries, especially in China. In 2016, the Chinese population aged 60 years and over was over. 230 million, which will further increase to 480 million by 2050 [3]. Older adults face special physical and mental health challenges that need to be recognized
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