Depressive Symptoms In Older People Research Articles

The effect of self-rated health on depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults: The mediating role of social participation and spouse health

This study investigates the relationship between self-rated health, social participation, spouse health, and depressive symptoms in older adults. It also analyzed the moderating effects of gender, drinking, visual function, diet, quality of life, and economic level on the model. We analyzed data from 5119 participants aged 60 and above, from the CLHLS. We used a partial least squares structural equation model to explore the correlation between self-rated health, spouse health, social participation, and depressive symptoms. Self-rated health was significantly correlated with spouse health, social participation, and depressive symptoms (P < 0.001). Social participation (β=-0.034) and spouse health (β=-0.029) were mediators of self-rated health to depressive symptoms. In addition, gender, drinking, visual function, diet, quality of life, and economic level were mediated factors. This study provides evidence that self-rated health has direct or indirect associations with depressive symptoms in older people, with social participation and spouse health playing a crucial mediating role.

Financial strain and social support as moderators of the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms in older people

This study investigated the moderating effect of financial strain or social support on depressive symptoms among older people living alone in Taiwan. Data were collected from the “Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA),” which included 1513 participants aged 65 and over, among them, 153 (10.1%) were living alone, while 1360 (89.9%) were living with others. Measurement tools included the Depression scale (CES-D), financial stress scale, social support scale, ADL scale, IADL scale, and stress scale, with Cronbach’s α coefficients were 0.85, 0.78, 0.67, 0.91, 0.90, and 0.70 respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the moderator effect. The findings revealed that (1) Financial strain was found to moderate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms, acting as a promotive moderator among older men living alone. For older women, financial stress does not moderate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms. However, financial strain was also identified as a significant factor associated with depressive symptoms among older women living alone. (2) Social support does not moderate effect on the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms in older men or older women. These results underscore the importance of considering financial stress in mental health policy development by government agencies. It is imperative to address the unique challenges faced by older individuals living alone, particularly in relation to financial strain, in order to promote their mental well-being.

Trajectories of depressive symptom and its association with air pollution: evidence from the Mr. OS and Ms. OS Hong Kong cohort study

BackgroundDepression is a global health priority. Maintaining and delaying depressive symptoms in older adults is a key to healthy aging. This study aimed to identify depressive symptom trajectories, predictors and mortality, while also exploring the relationship between air quality and depressive symptoms in older adults in the Hong Kong community over 14 years.MethodsThis study is a longitudinal study in Hong Kong. The target population was community-dwelling older adults over age 65. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Group-based trajectory model was used to identify heterogeneity in longitudinal changes over 14 years and examine the associations between baseline variables and trajectories for different cohort members using multinomial logistic regression. The Kaplan–Meier method was employed to conduct survival analysis and explore the variations in survival probabilities over time among different trajectory group. Linear mixed model was used to explore the relationship between air quality and depressive symptoms.ResultsA total of 2828 older adults were included. Three different trajectories of depressive symptoms in older people were identified: relatively stable (15.4%), late increase (67.1%) and increase (17.5%). Female, more number of chronic diseases, poor cognitive function, and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were significantly associated with other less favorable trajectories compared with participants with stable levels of depressive symptoms. The late increase group had a lower mortality rate than the relatively stable and increased groups. Lower baseline ambient air pollutant exposure to NO2 over 14 years was significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that a late increase in depressive symptoms was the predominant trend in older Chinese people in Hong Kong. Poorer HRQOL was predictive of less favorable trajectories of depressive symptoms. Ambient air pollution was associated with depressive symptoms. This novel observation strengthens the epidemiological evidence of longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms and associations with late-life exposure to air pollution.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in older women: findings from the NutBrain Study.

Data on the association of the Mediterranean diet (MD) with depressive symptoms in older people at high risk of depression are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association of the adherence to the MD and its components with depressive symptoms in an Italian cohort of older men and women. A total of 325 men and 473 women aged 65–97 years (2019–2023) answered a 102-item semi-quantitative FFQ, which was used to calculate the Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; subjects with a score of 16 or more were considered to have depression. Multivariable logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. The occurrence of depressive symptoms was 19·8 % (8·0 % men, 27·9 % women). High adherence to MDS (highest tertile) significantly reduced the odds of having depressive symptoms by 54·6 % (OR 0·454, 95 % CI 0·266, 0·776). In sex-stratified analysis, the reduction was evident in women (OR 0·385, 95 % CI 0·206, 0·719) but not in men (OR 0·828, 95 % CI 0·254, 2·705). Looking at the association of MDS components with depressive symptoms, we found an inverse significant association with fish consumption and the MUFA:SFA ratio above the median only in women (OR 0·444, 95 % CI 0·283, 0·697 and OR 0·579, 95 % CI 0·345, 0·971, respectively). High adherence to the MDS, and a high fish intake and MUFA:SFA ratio were associated with lower depressive symptoms in women only. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

The mediating effect of life satisfaction between daily living abilities and depressive symptoms in the Chinese older people: evidence from CHARLS 2020.

Depressive symptoms represent a significant public health challenge, impacting the mental well-being of older adults. Despite this, the understanding of how activities of daily living (ADL) abilities correlate with life satisfaction and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults remains limited. This study aims to investigate the relationship between ADL and depressive symptoms in older people Chinese individuals, with a specific focus on examining the mediating role of life satisfaction within this context. The study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected in 2020. A cohort of 8,343 individuals aged 60 years and above was included. The analysis was conducted using STATA 17.0 and SPSS 26.0, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlations, and mediation analysis using the percentile Bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples to explore the interrelations among ADL, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. ADL is positively correlated with life satisfaction (r = 0.129, p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r = -0.313, p < 0.01). Additionally, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms are negatively correlated with each other (r = -0.360, p < 0.01). In the model of the mediating effect, ADL directly, significantly and negatively predicts depressive symptoms in the Chinese older people (β = -0.193, t = -17.827, p < 0.001). After incorporating life satisfaction into the regression equation, the direct predictive effect of ADL on depressive symptoms remains significant (β = -0.177, t = -17.099, p < 0.001); furthermore, ADL has a significant positive predictive effect on life satisfaction (β = 0.007, t = 4.959, p < 0.001) and life satisfaction significantly negatively predicts depressive symptoms (β = -2.235, t = -27.799, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the direct effect of ADL on depressive symptoms (-0.177) and its mediating effect (-0.016) account for 91.71% and 8.29% of the total effect (-0.193), respectively. ADL is inversely associated with the risk of depressive symptoms among older people Chinese individuals, with life satisfaction serving as a significant mediator in this relationship. Interventions aimed at improving life satisfaction in older people individuals with ADL impairments may effectively reduce or prevent the onset of depressive symptoms.

Associations of daytime napping and nighttime sleep quality with depressive symptoms in older Chinese: the Guangzhou biobank cohort study

BackgroundPoor sleep quality has been linked to depression in older adults, but results of the association between daytime napping and depression remains limited and conflicting. Moreover, whether the association of daytime napping with depression varies by nighttime sleep quality is unclear. Hence, we examined the associations of daytime napping and nighttime sleep quality with depressive symptoms in older Chinese.MethodsA total of 16,786 participants aged ≥50 from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study second-round examination (2008–2012) were included in this cross-sectional study. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), napping and demographic data were collected by face-to-face interview using a computerized questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) of depressive symptoms for napping and sleep quality.ResultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms (GDS score > 5) and poor global sleep quality (PSQI score ≥ 6) was 5.3 and 31.9%, respectively. Compared to non-nappers, nappers showed significantly higher odds of depressive symptoms, with OR (95% confidence interval (CI)) being 1.28 (1.11–1.49). The odds of depressive symptoms for daytime napping varied by nighttime sleep quality (P for interaction = 0.04). In good-quality sleepers, compared to non-nappers, nappers had significantly higher odds of depressive symptoms, with OR (95% CI) being 1.57 (1.23–2.01), whereas no association was found in poor-quality sleepers (OR = 1.13, 0.94–1.36).ConclusionNapping was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms in older people, and the association was stronger in good-quality sleepers.

The mediating role of loneliness on the relationships between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in older people with immune dissonance

The mediating role of loneliness on the relationships between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in older people with immune dissonance

Interaction effect of midday napping duration and depressive symptoms on subjective memory impairment among older people in China: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study database

BackgroundSubjective memory impairment (SMI) is common in older people. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing SMI among older people in China, with specific focus on the interaction effect of midday napping duration and depressive symptoms on the risk of SMI.MethodsUsing a dataset representative of the Chinese population from a longitudinal study of health and retirement in China, subjects with SMI were screened using the question “how do you feel about your memory now?” and the Mini-Mental State Examination. A logistic regression model was applied to explore the factors affecting SMI. Additive and multiplicative models were used to analyze the interaction effect of midday napping duration and depressive symptoms on the risk of SMI.ResultsWe enrolled 8,254 subjects included and the incidence of SMI was 63.9%. Depressive symptoms, nap time, and physical activity were influencing factors of SMI. Midday napping duration and depressive symptoms had positive additive interaction effects on the risk of SMI. When extended-length naps and depressive symptoms coexisted, the risk of SMI was 1.06 times greater than that for either alone (RERI, relative excess risk due to interaction = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.07–0.43; AP, attributable proportion = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.01–0.23; S, synergy index = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.57–1.62). When short naps and depressive symptoms coexisted, the risk of SMI was 1.2 times higher than that for either alone (RERI = 0.12, 95% CI=-0.14–0.39; AP = 0.13, 95% CI=-0.07–0.22; S = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.79–1.82).LimitationsSince this was a cross-sectional study, the cause-and-effect relationships between the associated variables cannot be inferred.ConclusionsThe interaction effect that exists between nap time and depressive symptoms in older people is important for the identification and early intervention of people at risk for SMI.

Effects of reminiscence therapy combined with memory specificity training (RT-MeST) on depressive symptoms in older adults: a randomized controlled trial protocol

BackgroundGeriatric depression has become a serious public health problem, and reduced autobiographical memory and increased overgeneral memory, as the main cognitive markers of depression, are not only associated with current depressive symptoms but also associated with the onset and course of depression, which can lead to a range of harms. Economic and effective psychological interventions are urgently needed. The aim of this study is to confirm the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy combined with memory specificity training in improving autobiographical memory and depressive symptoms in older adults.MethodsIn this multicentre, single-blind, three-arm parallel randomized controlled study, we aim to enrol 78 older adults aged 65 years or older with a score of ≥ 11 on the Geriatric Depression Scale, and participants will be randomly assigned to either a reminiscence therapy group, a reminiscence therapy with memory specificity training group or a usual care group. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T0) as well as immediately post-intervention (T1) and 1 (T2), 3 (T3) and 6 (T4) months post-intervention. The primary outcome measure is self-reported depressive symptoms, measured using the GDS. Secondary outcome measures include measures of autobiographical memory, rumination, and social engagement.DiscussionWe believe that the intervention will play a positive role in improving autobiographical memory and depressive symptoms in older adults. Poor autobiographical memory is a predictor of depression and a major cognitive marker, and improving autobiographical memory is of great significance in alleviating depressive symptoms in older people. If our program is effective, it will provide a convenient and feasible strategy for further promoting healthy ageing.Trial registrationChiCTR2200065446.

Exploring the reciprocal relationship between activities of daily living disability and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese people: a four-wave, cross-lagged model

BackgroundEarly studies have shown a relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) disability and depressive symptoms in older people. However, discussions on the direction of this relationship are insufficient. The study’s objective was to assess the reciprocal relationship between ADL disability and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese people.MethodData was collected in four waves of a nationwide survey, the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which was carried out in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. In total, this study included 4,124 participants aged ≥ 45 years at baseline. A summing score of the eleven items for basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was calculated to indicate the degree of ADL disability. The 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) was adopted to measure depressive symptoms. The reciprocal relationship between ADL disability and depressive symptoms was tested by cross-lagged models.ResultAt baseline, 911 (22.1%) participants were classified as having difficulties with ADL, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 34.4% (1,418). Among middle-aged and older people in China, there was a significant reciprocal and longitudinal relationship between ADL disability and depressive symptoms. People who had difficulty with ADL faced a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and those who suffered from depressive symptoms were accompanied by an increase in ADL disability in the following years. The subgroup analysis on age also showed that ADL disability was reciprocally and longitudinally related to depressive symptoms. However, only women showed similar results in the subgroup analysis on gender.ConclusionThis study shows that ADL disability is bi-directionally related to depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older Chinese people over time. The results suggest we should identify ADL disability and bad psychological conditions in time to prevent subsequent mutual damage among middle-aged and older Chinese people, a vulnerable group rising in the future.

The contribution of the smartphone use to reducing depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults: The mediating effect of social participation.

Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder. Although Internet use has been associated with depression, there is limited data on the association between smartphone use and depressive symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between smartphone use and depressive symptoms among older individuals in China. 5,244 Chinese older individuals over the age of 60 were selected as the sample from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2018 dataset. The dependent variable "depression symptoms" was measured using the 9-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. The study employed multiple linear regression to investigate the relationship between smartphone use (independent variable) and depressive symptoms in older people. Thorough analyses of robustness, sensitivity, and heterogeneity were conducted to ensure the robustness and sensitivity of the findings. Additionally, mediating effect analysis was performed to elucidate the mechanism through which the dependent and independent variables were related. Empirical study indicated that smartphone use had a negative impact on depressive symptoms among older adults, specifically leading to a reduction in such symptoms. The above-mentioned result was verified through endogenous and robustness tests. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that older individuals aged 70 years and above, male, and residing in urban areas exhibited a stronger association between smartphone use and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the mediating effect model indicated that political participation, voluntary participation, and active leisure participation mediated the relationship between smartphone use and lower levels of depression symptoms among the older adults. However, passive leisure participation had a suppressing effect on the relationship between smartphone use and reduced depressive symptoms among the older adults. The causal relationship between variables required further investigation with a longitudinal design. These findings suggested that smartphone use may be considered an intervention to reduce depression symptoms among older people by increasing levels of political participation, voluntary participation, and active leisure participation.

Longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms: the role of multimorbidity, mobility and subjective memory

BackgroundThe high prevalence of depression among older people in China places a heavy burden on the health system. Multimorbidity, mobility limitation and subjective memory impairment are found to be risk indicators for depression. However, most studies on this topic focused on depression at a single point in time, ignoring the dynamic changes in depressive symptoms and the relationship between the trajectories and these three conditions. Therefore, we aimed to identify distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms in older people and investigate their associations with multimorbidity, mobility limitation and subjective memory impairment.MethodsData was drawn from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study conducted during 2011–2018. A total of 5196 participants who completed 4 visits, conducted every 2–3 years were included in this study. Group-based trajectory modeling was conducted to identify distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms z-scores. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the relationships.ResultsFour distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms z-scores were identified, labeled as persistently low symptoms (68.69%, n = 3569), increasing symptoms (12.14%, n = 631), decreasing symptoms (14.05%, n = 730) and persistently high symptoms (5.12%, n = 266). Participants with multimorbidity had unfavorable trajectories of depressive symptoms compared with those without multimorbidity, with adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) of 1.40 (1.15, 1.70), 1.59 (1.33, 1.90) and 2.19 (1.65, 2.90) for the increasing symptoms, decreasing symptoms and persistently high symptoms, respectively. We also observed a similar trend among participants with mobility limitations. Compared with participants who had poor subjective memory, participants with excellent/very good/good subjective memory had a lower risk of developing unfavorable trajectories of depressive symptoms. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) of the increasing symptoms, decreasing symptoms and persistently high symptoms were 0.54 (0.40, 0.72), 0.50 (0.38, 0.65) and 0.48 (0.31, 0.73), respectively.ConclusionsMultimorbidity, mobility limitation and subjective memory impairment were found to be potential risk factors for unfavorable depression trajectories.

Does emotional dysregulation mediate the relationship between disability and depressive symptoms in older people?

BackgroundEmotion dysregulation has been consistently linked to psychopathology, and the relationship between disability and depressive symptomatology in old age is well-known. ObjectiveTo examine the mediational role of emotional dysregulation in the relationship between perceived disability and depressive symptomatology in older adults. MethodsTwo hundred eighty-three participants, aged 60–96 years (M±SD=74.22±8.69; 62.9% women; 29.0% with long-term care support [LTC-S] and 71.0% community residents without LTC-S), were assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale-8 (GDS-8), the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-2 (WHODAS-2), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16). ResultsA mediation model was established, which revealed: (1) a moderate association between WHODAS-2 and GDS-8 (β=0.20; p<.001); (2) DERS-16 partially and weakly mediated the relationship between WHODAS-2 and GDS-8 (β=0.003; p<.01). The model explained 31.9% of the variance of depressive symptoms. An inconsistent mediation model was obtained in the LTC-S group. ConclusionsGlobally, our findings indicate that disability has an indirect relationship with depressive symptomatology through emotional dysregulation (except for those in the LTC-S). Accordingly, we present suggestions for the treatment of depressive symptoms and for the inclusion of other emotion regulation variables in the study of the disability-depressive symptom link in future studies with older people in the LTC-S.

The impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on presentations with depressive symptoms in older people - an electronic health records study.

The impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on presentations with depressive symptoms in older people - an electronic health records study.

Change in Substance Use and the Effects of Social Distancing on Health-Related Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in People Living With and Without HIV.

Little is known about the impact of social distancing on health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in older people with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic. HIV-positive and HIV-negative AGEhIV Cohort Study participants. In September-November 2020, participants completed questionnaires on social distancing, change in substance use, health-related quality of life (EQ-6D, including EQ-VAS), and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9). Associations between social distancing and (1) EQ-VAS or (2) PHQ-9 score ≥10 (clinically relevant depressive symptoms) were analyzed using fractional and binomial logistic regression, respectively. Two hundred fourteen HIV-positive and 285 HIV-negative participants were analyzed. 77.4% found social distancing important and 66.9% reported good adherence to these measures, without significant differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants. In both groups, &amp;lt;5% reported increased smoking or recreational drug use, but more HIV-positive (12.2%) than HIV-negative (4.9%) participants (P = 0.005) reported increased/more frequent alcohol use. Median EQ-VAS was slightly lower in HIV-positive (80 IQR = 73-90) than HIV-negative (84 IQR = 75-90) participants (P = 0.041). The prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms was similar (HIV-positive, 8.4% and HIV-negative, 8.8%). Worrying about contracting COVID-19 and having ≥3 (vs no) comorbidities were associated with lower EQ-VAS and finding social distancing easy with higher EQ-VAS. Worrying about contracting COVID-19 and younger than 60 years (vs ≥65) were associated with higher odds of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. HIV status was associated with neither outcome. Initially during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, a similar majority of HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants reported adhering to social distancing. Irrespective of HIV status, concerns about contracting COVID-19 negatively affected participants' perceived current health and increased risk of depressive symptoms.

Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Relationship between Sleep Duration and Depressive Symptoms in Older People in China

To investigate the relationship between sleep duration and depressive symptoms in older people in China, and to explore whether there are gender differences in the relationship. Accessing the data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) for 2015 and 2018, we covered in the study a total of 2898 respondents, including 1684 males (58.1%) and 1214 females (41.9%). The 10-item form of Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure the depressive symptoms of the older people. The effects of sleep duration on depressive symptoms of older people in China were analyzed with the logistic model. Based on the depressive and non-depressive subgroups in 2018, the differences of health factor variables and sleep duration between 2015 and 2018 were studied. Adjustments were made for health factors presenting statistical differences in 2018 to further explore the stability of the analysis results. Among the female older people, those with short sleep duration and those with long sleep duration had increased risks of developing depressive symptoms [odds ratio ( OR)=1.815, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.357-2.429 and OR=1.364, 95% CI: 1.001-1.854, respectively] in comparison to those with normal sleep duration. Among the male older people, no connection was identified between sleep duration and risks for depressive symptoms ( P>0.05). Residing in rural areas, suffering from chronic diseases and having limited ability for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were risk factors for developing depressive symptoms ( P<0.05). The sleep duration for 2015 and that for 2018 were found to be statistically different in the depressive older people ( P<0.001), but no no statistically significant difference was found between the sleep duration for 2015 and that for 2018 among the non-depressive older people. Findings for chronic diseases and IADL for 2015 and those for 2018 were statistically different in the depressive older population ( P<0.001). In the non-depressive older population, findings for chronic diseases, IADL and tobacco smoking status for 2015 and those for 2018 showed statistical difference ( P<0.05). Further sensitivity analysis showed that in the female older population, short sleep duration increased the risks for depressive symptoms ( OR=1.819, 95% CI: 1.356-2.440, P<0.001), while long sleep duration did not affect the risks for depressive symptoms. In the male older population, short or long sleep duration were not associated with the risks for depressive symptoms. The association between sleep duration and the risks for depressive symptoms was different for men and women. For the female older population, the possibility of depressive symptoms should be considered for those with short or long sleep duration. For the male older population, short or long sleep duration had little impact on the risks for depressive symptoms.

The Effect of Social Media Use on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults with Self-Reported Hearing Impairment: An Empirical Study.

Older people with hearing impairment are more likely to develop depressive symptoms due to physical disability and loss of social communication. This study investigated the effects of social media on social relations, subjective aging, and depressive symptoms in these older adults based on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework. It provides new empirical evidence to support improving the mental health and rebuilding the social relations of older people. A formal questionnaire was designed using the Wenjuanxing platform and distributed online through WeChat; 643 valid questionnaires were received from older people with self-reported hearing impairments, and SmartPLS 3.28 was used to analyze the data. The results show that (1) social media significantly impacts the social relations of older people with hearing impairment (social networks, β = 0.132, T = 3.444; social support, β = 0.129, T = 2.95; social isolation, β = 0.107, T = 2.505). (2) For these older people, social isolation has the biggest impact on their psychosocial loss (β = 0.456, T = 10.458), followed by the impact of social support (β = 0.103, T = 2.014); a hypothesis about social network size was not confirmed (β = 0.007, T = 0.182). Both social media (β = 0.096, T = 2.249) and social support (β = 0.174, T = 4.434) significantly affect the self-efficacy of hearing-impaired older people. (3) Both subjective aging (psychosocial loss, β = 0.260, T = 6.036; self-efficacy, β = 0.106, T = 3.15) and social isolation (β = 0.268, T = 6.307) significantly affect depressive symptoms in older people with hearing impairment. This study expands the theories of social media aging cognition, social support, and social networks and can provide practical contributions to the social media use and mental health of special persons 60 years and older.

Socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms in older people with the mediation role of social support: A population-based longitudinal study.

BackgroundDepressive symptoms has become an increasingly important public health issue, contributing to disability and disease burden around the world. Higher socioeconomic status (SES) has been found to be associated with lower prevalence of depression, but there are few studies about the older Chinese adults with long‐term follow up and rigorous prospective design. Meanwhile, there is little conclusive evidence about the mechanisms through which SES influences the onset of depressive symptoms.ObjectiveTo prospectively examine the association of baseline socioeconomic factors with the risks of developing depressive symptoms during 7‐year follow up in older Chinese population, and to study the mechanism by which SES impacts the prevalence of depressive symptoms.MethodsA total of 5677 individuals over 45 years who participated in an ongoing nationally representative prospective cohort study, China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, were free from depressive symptoms at baseline, and completed 7‐year follow‐up were included. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10‐item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association of SES and the incidence of depressive symptoms in 2011 to 2018. Generalized structural equation model was used to analyze the mediation effects of social support on the relation between SES and depressive symptoms.ResultsDuring the 7‐year follow‐up, 2398 (42.2%) cases were identified as depressive symptoms. Compared with the lowest level of household income, participants with the highest level of household income had a 20% reduction in risk (95% CI, 0.70–0.92, P < 0.001). Participants who had junior high school or above education had a 41% lower risk of depressive disorders compared with illiterate participants (95% CI, 0.52–0.69, P < 0.001). The relationship between SES and depressive symptoms was partially mediated by the social support, where higher social support was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. The proportion of mediation effect was even larger for women compared with men.ConclusionSocioeconomic factors were independently associated with the development of depressive symptoms, and the relationship was partially mediated by social support. Social support could be an effective intervention to alleviate the negative effects of lower SES on mental health. Multiple‐level policies should precisely target low‐SES groups, and timely intervention to promote social support for this group should be used to reduce the influence of depression on individuals, family as well as the whole society.

Community-Level Participation in Volunteer Groups and Individual Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Older People: A Three-Year Longitudinal Multilevel Analysis Using JAGES Data.

Background: The current study aimed to investigate the contextual effect of volunteer group participation on subsequent depressive symptoms in older people. Methods: We analyzed the longitudinal data of 37,552 people aged 65 years and older in 24 municipalities surveyed in the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. Volunteer group participation of older people was assessed in 2013 by one question and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale 15 in 2016. To investigate a contextual effect, we aggregated individual-level volunteer group participation by each residence area as a community-level independent variable. We conducted a two-level multilevel Poisson regression analysis using the Random Intercepts and Fixed Slopes Model. Results: The average proportion of community-level volunteer group participation was 10.6%. The results of the Poisson regression analysis showed that community-level volunteer group participation reduced the risk for the onset of depressive symptoms by 13% with a 10 percentage point increase in participation, after adjusting for sex, age, population density, total annual sunshine hours and annual rainfall (incident rate ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.98). Conclusions: Older people living in areas with higher volunteer group participation had a lower risk of developing depressive symptoms regardless of whether or not they participated in a volunteer group.

The impact of coronavirus on mental health and welfare of the elderly

Extreme distancing during quarantine and social isolation in periods of serious infections, such as COVID-19, affected society and the social life of the population worldwide, changing cultural habits while it was found to be associated with mental and social health problems such as depression and anxiety. It was found that the elderly is the portion of the population that is at greater risk in the COVID-19 epidemic and if they get sick, they have a greater risk of dying. This group is particularly vulnerable to infections due to a weakened immune system, comorbidities, including respiratory diseases, hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The balance that has been accomplished in the past between age-related disorders and good quality of life and health is now under high pressure. It is therefore very important to protect the elderly and if isolation can reduce the transmission of the disease and save their lives, it should be implemented, in order to maintain their quality of life as much as possible. Compliance with the instructions and recommendations of the WHO and other national, regional, international organizations can significantly reduce the risk of spreading the disease. This study examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the elderly and how this disease has affected their mental health and well-being. Our goal is also to comprehend the factors associated with depressive symptoms in older people during the disease.