Profiles Of Older People Survey Research Articles

Association of Geriatric Depressive Symptoms and Government-Initiated Senior Employment Program: A Population-Based Study.

The impact of the government-initiated senior employment program (GSEP) on geriatric depressive symptoms is underexplored. Unearthing this connection could facilitate the planning of future senior employment programs and geriatric depression interventions. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the possible association between geriatric depressive symptoms and GSEP in older adults. This study employed data from 9,287 participants aged 65 or older, obtained from the 2020 Living Profiles of Older People Survey. We measured depressive symptoms using the Korean version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. The principal exposure of interest was employment status and GSEP involvement. Data analysis involved multiple linear regression. Employment, independent of income level, showed association with decreased depressive symptoms compared to unemployment (p<0.001). After adjustments for confounding variables, participation in GSEP jobs showed more significant reduction in depressive symptoms than non-GSEP jobs (β=-0.968, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-1.197 to -0.739, p<0.001 for GSEP jobs, β=-0.541, 95% CI=-0.681 to -0.401, p<0.001 for non-GSEP jobs). Notably, the lower income tertile in GSEP jobs showed a substantial reduction in depressive symptoms compared to all income tertiles in non-GSEP jobs. The lower-income GSEP group experienced lower depressive symptoms and life dissatisfaction compared to non-GSEP groups regardless of income. These findings may provide essential insights for the implementation of government policies and community-based interventions.

The Role of Muscular Strength on the Relationship between Number of Chronic Diseases and Depressive Symptom in Older Adults

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether muscular strength modulates the relationship between the number of chronic diseases (NCD) and depression in older adults of Korean descent.METHODS: Data from the Living Profiles of Older People Survey including 10,097 older adults of Korean descent aged ≥65 years were used. Depressive symptoms were defined as a score of ≥8 on the self-administered Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale. Muscular strength was assessed through a self-reported questionnaire. Chronic diseases comprising the NCD were defined as physician-diagnosed long-term conditions.RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were more prevalent as the NCD increased in both male (odds ratio [OR]=2.650; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.214-3.172, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) and female (OR=2.261; 95%CI: 1.880-2.720, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) patients. Similarly, depressive symptoms increased as muscular strength decreased in both male (OR=2.323, 95%CI: 1.757-3.073, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) and female (OR=2.280, 95%CI: 1.886-2.775, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) patients, even after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking education, and marriage. Moderation analysis showed that the effects of the NCD on depressive symptoms was modulated by muscular strength (β=0.557, 95%CI=0.222-0.891, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001), even after adjustments for all the covariates.CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that muscular strength plays a beneficial role in the NCD and depressive symptoms in older adults of Korean descent.

Mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between digital literacy and cognitive function in older adults

AbstractBackgroundAlthough several studies have examined the individual relationships between digital literacy, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms, few have integrated all three factors into a single model. In this study, we aim to address this gap in the literature by investigating the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between digital literacy and cognition. By doing so, we hope to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay among these variables and their implications for mental health and well‐being.MethodParticipants were 7988 adults, 65 or older, who participated in Living Profiles of Older People Survey (LPOPS) 2020. The main exposure was digital literacy (communication literacy, information literacy, online transactions literacy, media literacy). The main outcome was depressive symptoms measured by Korean version of the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS‐K), and cognitive function measured by a Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Multiple linear regression analyses and mediation analysis were performed.ResultAfter adjusting for covariates, our analysis found a significant association between digital literacy and both depressive symptoms and cognitive function (β of four types of digital literacy and depressive symptoms = ‐0.73, ‐0.152, ‐0.942, and ‐1.041 respectively, β of four types of digital literacy and cognitive function = 2.102, 2.217, 1.620, and 2.276 respectively). Moreover, our study suggests that depressive symptoms play a mediating role in the relationship between both online transactions and media literacy with cognitive function (95% CI of indirect effects = 0.1051 to 0.1928 and 0.1104 to 0.1864 respectively), implying an indirect pathway (digital literacy → depression → cognitive function).ConclusionThis study sheds light on the relationship between digital literacy, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in older adults. We found that depressive symptoms mediate the association between specific aspects of digital literacy (online transactions and media literacy) and cognitive function. Our results indicate that community‐based digital literacy programs could be effective interventions for reducing depression and preserving or improving cognitive function in older adults.

Mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between digital literacy and cognitive function in older adults.

Although several studies have examined the individual relationships among digital literacy, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms, few have integrated all three factors into a single model. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the mediating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between digital literacy and cognition. In doing so, we hoped to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay among these variables and their implications for mental health and well-being. Participants were 7,988 older adults (65 years or older) who participated in the Living Profiles of Older People Survey 2020. The main type of exposure was digital literacy (communication, information, media, and online transaction literacy). The main outcomes were depressive symptoms measured using the Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean version and cognitive function measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination score. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were also performed. After adjusting for covariates, our analysis found a significant association between digital literacy and both depressive symptoms and cognitive function (β of four types of digital literacy and depressive symptoms = -0.123, -0.172, -0.702, and - 0.639, respectively; β of four types of digital literacy and cognitive function = 2.102, 2.217, 1.711, and 1.436, respectively). Moreover, our study showed that depressive symptoms play a mediating role in the relationship between media and online transaction literacy and cognitive function (95% CI of indirect effects = 0.0647-0.1212 and 0.0639-0.1277, respectively), implying an indirect pathway (digital literacy, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function). This study sheds light on the relationship between digital literacy, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in older adults. We found that depressive symptoms mediated the association between specific aspects of digital literacy (online transaction and media literacy) and cognitive function. Our results indicate that community-based digital literacy programs could be effective in reducing depression and preserving or improving cognitive function in older adults.

Assessing possible moderators on the association between frequency of contact with non-cohabitating adult children and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults

IntroductionWith the increase of older adult population, late life depression is emerging as a major problem in many countries as it significantly deteriorates function and quality of life in older adults. Late life depression is a multidimensional disease that requires intervention in biopsychosocial perspective. Recent reduction in family size and rapid simplification of generations are making this decrease more dramatic. Thus, single older households are becoming general type of household in late life, emphasizing the importance of social engagement in late life depressionObjectivesthe purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between the frequency of face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact with non-cohabitating adult children and late life depression after the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we hypothesized 10 possible moderators and evaluated the moderation effect of each moderator on the correlation. By identifying groups of older adults that are more affected by contact with their children, the understanding of the relationship between late life depression and family contact in older adults might provide insights to set intervention targets in the community.MethodsOlder adults who completed the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were included. In total, 7,573 participants were analyzed by measuring their contact frequency and depression symptoms. Regression analysis was done adjusting covariates. Process macro was used to verify the moderating effects of variables.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis showed that both infrequent face-to-face (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.56-2.23) and non-face-to-face contact (OR=1.22, 95% CI=1.03-1.44) with non-cohabitating adult children group was associated with higher risk of late life depression compared to a frequent contact group. Further linear regression analysis, which viewed depressive symptoms as SGDS-K score, indicated consistent results in face-to-face and non-face-to-face contact (estimate=0.468, standard error [SE]=0.091, p&lt;0.001 and estimate=0.262, standard error [SE]=0.079, p&lt;0.001, respectively). Finally, using moderation analysis, association with late life depression and frequency of face-to-face contact was moderated by age, quartiles of household income, number of chronic diseases, frequency of physical activity, existence of spouse, and nutritional status (NSI) whether effect of frequency of non-face-to-face contact on late life depression was increased by participation in social activity, frequent physical activity, and good cognitive function (MMSE-DS score)(p for interaction&lt;0.05).ConclusionsFrequent contact of non-cohabitating children lowers the risk of later life depression. Several variables were found significant in moderating contact frequency-depression symptoms.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Association between Light Intensity Physical Activity and All-cause Mortality in Older Adults with Physical Disability

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the association between light intensity physical activity (LPA) and all-cause mortality in older adults with physical disability.METHODS: Data from the 2008 Living Profiles of Older People Survey involving 14,367 Korean adults aged ≥60 years (13,417 without disabilities and 950 with disabilities) were used. Participants were divided into active and inactive groups based on weekly LPA and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), according to disability status and physical activity levels.RESULTS: During 3.3±0.4 years follow-up period, 1,024 deaths occurred from all causes. Among non-disabled people, the inactive group showed a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.282, 95% CI=1.122–1.465, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) than the active group (reference= 1) in LPA. Similarly, for MVPA, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the inactive group (HR=1.522, 95% CI=1.230–1.882, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) than in the active group (reference=1). However, among physically disabled people, the inactive group correspondingly showed a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=2.735, 95% CI=1.761–4.246, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) than the active group, while there was no significant difference between both groups in MVPA.CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that promoting LPA may play an important role in preventing premature death from allcause mortality in older adults with physical disability.

Abuse and risk factors among community-dwelling elderly in South Korea during COVID-19

ABSTRACT Elder abuse is a serious social problem in South Korea. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors of elder abuse during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. By using the 2020 Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Seoul Metropolitan City and considering sociodemographic, health-related, social support, and isolation factors as independent variables, a logistic regression model was established. Among 3,106 samples, the overall rate of elder abuse was 8.5%, with emotional abuse being the most frequent. Social isolation (OR = 1.47, p = .018) and recognition of abuse (OR = 0.90, p = .003) were associated with having experienced abuse. Seniors with a greater number of diseases, higher levels of dependency, depressive symptoms, and/or cognitive impairments were more likely to suffer abuse, as were those who smoked or drank alcohol. To prevent elder abuse by social isolation during and after COVID-19, more active health promotion programs and healthy aging policies should be implemented.

Social Network Types and Depressive Symptoms among Older Korean Men and Women.

This study explores the social network types of older Korean men and women, and the relationship of those networks to depressive symptoms. A population of 4608 older adults who participated in the Living Profiles of Older People Survey (LPOPS) were included in the study. Seven criterion variables—marital status, living arrangements, frequency of contact with children, close friends, and close relatives, participation in social activities, and total network size—were included in a K-means cluster analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of the impact of social network type on depressive symptoms was conducted. We identified two “diverse type” social networks (diverse-married and diverse-unmarried) in women, and one diverse type and one “social-activity-focused type” network in men. Family focused type and two “restricted type” social networks (restricted-couple-focused, and restricted-unmarried) were identified in both men and women. The restricted-unmarried and restricted-couple-focused networks were associated with more depressive symptoms in both men and women. However, the family focused type was associated with more depressive symptoms only in women. The results indicated that social network types, and their impact on depressive symptoms, differ by gender. There is a need for further research on gender differences in the social network types of older adults across diverse cultures.

Gender differences in the effect of depression and cognitive impairment on risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults

BackgroundThe impact of the interrelationship between depression and cognitive impairment on risk of falls remains unclear. In addition, gender differences should be considered to further understand the relationships between depression, cognitive impairment, and risk of falls. MethodsOlder adults who completed the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were included. In total, 14,055 participants completed the baseline survey, and 7,150 participants completed a follow-up survey after 3 years. We classified participants into 4 groups based on depression and cognitive impairment. ResultsUsing generalized estimating equation models, older adults with depression but without cognitive impairment had a higher risk of falls (OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.35–1.63), compared to a reference group with neither depression nor cognitive impairment. However, older adults who had cognitive impairment but not depression had a similar risk of falls (OR=1.03, 95% CI=0.91–1.16) to the reference group. Finally, older adults who had both depression and cognitive impairment had the highest risk of falls (OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.73–2.20) compared to the reference group. In addition, depression seemed to have a bigger effect on the risk of falls in men compared to women (p for interaction < 0.001). LimitationsThese results should be interpreted with caution, considering the use of screening tool for defining depression or cognitive impairment, and lack of information on psychotropic medication use. ConclusionsDepression alone or depression combined with cognitive impairment was associated with higher risk of falls in older adults. In addition, gender differences in the risk of falls was noted.

The Influence of Multiple Frailties on Institutionalization and Mortality in Community-Living Older Adults

Frailty is a hallmark of accelerated aging, predisposing the older person to increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. Physical frailty is closely linked to other health dimensions, such as cognitive, psychological, and social functions. This study aims to examine the influence of multiple dimensions of frailty in predicting institutionalization and mortality. A nationally representative sample of Koreans 65 years or older from the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in 2008 was followed up for three years (n = 11,265). Physical frailty was defined as being prefrail or frail using the Fried phenotype model. Those with cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, and social vulnerabilities, in addition to physical frailty, were considered to have cognitive frailty, psychological frailty, and social frailty, respectively. The proportional hazards model was used to analyze the risk of institutionalization and mortality by the total number and different combinations of frailties, adjusting for covariates. More than half (50.1%) of the participants exhibited multiple frailties, with 8.1% concurrently displaying frailty in all four domains (mixed frailty). The risk of adverse outcomes was elevated with a higher number of frailties, with hazard ratios of 2.59 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52, 4.42) for institutionalization and 3.40 (95% CI: 2.50, 4.63) for mortality among those presenting mixed frailty. Whereas psychological frailty demonstrated a stronger predictive ability of mortality than institutionalization, the reverse was observed for social frailty. Multiple frailties are prevalent in late life. Acquiring more frailties raises the risk of adverse outcomes, with varying effects according to multidimensional frailty profiles.

The Relationship between Muscular Strength and Depression in Older Adults with Chronic Disease Comorbidity.

Older adults with disease and disability are particularly vulnerable to experiencing more severe consequences of depression. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between disease comorbidities (number of disease: ND0, 1 disease: ND1 and 2 or more diseases: ND ≥ 2), hand grip strength (low HGS and high HGS), and the prevalence of depression in Korean older adults. Data from the living profiles of older people survey that was conducted by the ministry of health and welfare in Korea were utilized. Data for 6107 females and 4347 males were appropriate for statistical tests. The results demonstrated that depression was more prevalent as ND increased (p < 0.01). In addition, HGS appeared lower as ND increased in both male (p < 0.01) and female subjects (p < 0.01). Furthermore, relative to ND0 and low HGS, ND0 and high HGS showed a ~65% reduction in the prevalence of depression (p < 0.01). After adjusting for age, the prevalence of depression was reduced by ~60% in the subgroup with ND0 and high HGS relative to ND0 and low HGS (p < 0.01). These data demonstrate that muscular strength indices such as HGS may be useful when assessing depression in older adults. Further research in this area is warranted.

Involuntary Weight Loss and Late-Life Depression in Korean Older Adults

To investigate the association between involuntary weight loss (IWL) and late-life depression (LLD) in a population-based cohort study. Data (N=6945) obtained from the 2008 baseline and 2011 follow-up assessments of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were used. Changed body weight between the 2008 and 2011 was classified into stable weight (<-5% ∼ <+5%), lightweight loss (≥ -5% ∼ <-10%), moderate weight loss (≥ -10%), lightweight gain (+≥5 ∼ <+10%), and moderate weight gain (≥+10%). Compared to the stable weight group, the moderate weight loss group had a higher risk of LLD (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval=1.61-2.46, P<0.001) even after adjustments for covariates, including age, BMI, education, income, life of solitude, smoking, physical activity, dependent aging, comorbidity, and cognitive function. IWL is significantly associated with LLD in Korean older adults, implying the prognostic importance of IWL for presenting mental health issues later in life.

Social Networking Site Usage and Its Impact on Depressive Symptoms among Older Men and Women in South Korea.

Background: We examined the rate of social networking site (SNS) usage and the relationship between SNS usage and depressive symptoms among older men and women in South Korea. Methods: The data were obtained from the Living Profiles of Older People Survey (LPOPS), which comprises a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized Korean older adults living in the community. A total of 10,073 older persons (4286 men and 5787 women) were included in the analysis. Results: A total of 26.0% of the total study population reported to use social network sites. Of the men and women, 32.6 and 21.1%, respectively, used SNS. A higher educational level and higher equivalent household income, lower number of chronic illnesses, no limitation in daily activities, living with others, and having good relationships with friends and neighbors were associated with higher SNS usage among older men and women. SNS usage was significantly associated with reduced depression scores in older men, but not in women. Conclusions: The difference in SNS usage between older men and women might be partially explained by differential exposure to digital technologies and disadvantages in education and economic opportunities. Education programs for digitalization and opportunities to engage with technology need to be provided.

CROSS-COUNTRY COMPARISON OF INTERNET USE AND DEPRESSION BY GENDER: THE ROLE OF INTERGENERATIONAL FACTORS

Technology may offer one approach to reducing depression as it provides medium to maintain connections (Cotton et al., 2014). Yet, depression, internet use, gender roles, and expectation of intergenerational interaction all differ across countries. Using nationally representative data from the U.S (Health and Retirement Study: HRS) and South Korea (Living Profiles of Older People Survey: LPOPS), the study examines 1) association between internet use and depressive symptoms by gender in two countries; 2) and whether intergenerational factors moderated this association. In the U.S., more than half of men and women aged 65+ used the internet, while approximately 30% of women and 47% of men used the internet in Korea. Using the internet was associated with lower depression for those living far from the closest child for women in the U.S., and for men in Korea. The findings indicate that the association of internet use on depressive symptoms can be influenced by intergenerational factors that may differentially affect men and women depending on the sociohistorical contexts.

Frequency of Contact with Non-Cohabitating Grandchildren and Risk of Depression in Elderly : A Community-Based 3-Year Longitudinal Study in Korea

Objective：Our study aimed to assess longitudinal association of frequency of contact with non-cohabitating grandchildren and risk of depression in elderly. Methods：Elderly were included from Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea who met inclusion criteria.(n=5,479) We defined infrequent contact with grandchildren as ＜1 time per month face to face contact or ＜1 time per week phone contact. Depression was measured at baseline survey and follow up survey, 3 years after, using the Korean version of 15-item Geriatric Depression Scales. We measured longitudinal associations between frequency of contact at baseline and geriatric depression at follow up. Results：In adjusted model, elderly with infrequent phone contact with grandchildren had adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.30[confidence interval (CI) 1.08&#8211;1.57] when compared with elderly with frequent phone contact. Elderlies with infrequent face-toface contact with grandchildren had adjusted OR of 1.06 (95% CI 0.91&#8211;1.25) when compared with elderly with frequent face-toface contact. Interaction between infrequent phone contact and infrequent face-to-face contact was not significant. Conclusion：This result proposes that the risk of subsequent depression in elderly is associated with frequency of phone contact with non-cohabitating grandchildren at baseline.

Barriers to health care utilization for older adults with functional disabilities in rural areas

의료서비스를 이용하려는 농촌에 거주하는 노인은 건강 관련 개인적인 요인과 인력과 자원이 부족한 농촌의 특성으로 서비스 접근에 어려움을 겪는다. 그래서 이 연구는 지역과 기능장애의 상호작용에 관심을 가지고, 기능장애와 지역적 특성 그리고 의료서비스 이용과의 관계를 분석하였 다. 이 연구는 2014년 노인실태조사에서 지역사회 거주 65세 이상 노인을 연구 대상으로 하였다. 의료서비스 이용 관련 요인을 분석하기 위해 로지스틱 회귀분석이 사용되었고, 기능장애와 농촌지 역의 상호작용을 분석하였다. 일상생활에 지장이 없는 농촌노인은 도시노인에 비해 의료서비스를더 높은 확률로 이용하는 것으로 나타났지만, 기본적 일상생활에 어려움이 있는 농촌노인은 통계적 으로 유의미하게 의료서비스 이용확률이 낮게 나타났다. 농촌과 기능장애의 상호작용 효과를 고려 하지 않는다면 농촌노인의 서비스 접근성이 잘못 해석될 수 있다. 이 결과는 도시와 농촌의 건강불 평등이 기능장애 노인에게는 심화될 수 있음을 의미한다.Rural older adults with functional disabilities may experience barriers in regard to using health care services due to the lack of health services and professionals in rural areas and the difficulty they experience in accessing such services. This study explored the relationships among functional disabilities, geographical characteristics, and health care use, focusing on the interaction effects of functional disabilities and rural areas on health care use. Using 2015 Living Profiles of Older People Survey, cross-sectional analyses were employed. Community-residing older adults aged 65 and older were extracted from the database. Logistic regressions were conducted to identify the influencing factors of health care service use. Next, interaction terms between functional disabilities and rural areas were included into the model. Rural older adults without difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL and IADL) were more likely to use health care services than their urban counterparts. However, rural older adults with difficulties in ADL were significantly less likely to use health care services than their counterparts. Without considering interaction effects between functional disabilities and geographic area, results might be misinterpreted as suggesting better accessibility of rural older adults to health care services. The results imply that health disparities between rural and urban older adults should be addressed by considering functional disability.

지역사회 노인의 자살생각 영향요인: 2017년 노인실태조사의 독거노인과 동거노인 비교

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with suicidal ideation using a data from nationwide cross-sectional Korean elderly survey and to examine differences among factors associated with elderly living alone and living with others. Methods: Data were collected from 2017 Living profiles of older people survey. The participants were 2,552 elderly living alone and 6,045 elderly living with others. Demographic, physical and mental health related factors, and family and social factors were included. Data were analyzed using chi-square test and binominal logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. Results: Among elderly living alone, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 10.6%, or more than two times higher than the prevalence among elderly living with others(5.1%). In both elderly living alone and living with others, the factors related to the suicidal ideation were perceived income adequacy, number of diagnosed chronic disease, depression, frequency of family contact, abused experience. Conclusions: This finding suggests that the different approach and strategy are needed for intervention and health education to reduce suicide ideation for elderly according to the types of living arrangement.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness without Exercise Testing Can Predict All-Cause Mortality Risk in a Representative Sample of Korean Older Adults.

This study examined the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) without exercise testing and all-cause mortality in Korean older adults. The present study was carried out using data from the 2008 and 2011 Living Profiles of Older People Survey. A total of 14,122 participants aged 60 years and older (57% women) completed the 2008 baseline and 2011 follow-up assessments (i.e., socioeconomic status, health behaviors and conditions, and prevalence of chronic diseases), and they were included for the final analyses. CRF was estimated (eCRF) with sex-specific algorithms and classified as lower (lowest 25%), middle (middle 50%), and upper (highest 25%). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across eCRF categories. In total, multivariable-adjusted HRs and 95% CIs were 1 for the upper eCRF group (referent), 1.059 (0.814~1.378) for the middle eCRF group, and 1.714 (1.304~2.253) for the lower eCRF group. In men, multivariable-adjusted HRs and 95% CIs were 1 for the upper eCRF group (referent), 1.011 (0.716~1.427) for the middle eCRF group, and 1.566 (1.098~2.234) for the lower eCRF group. In women, multivariable-adjusted HRs and 95% CIs were 1 for the upper eCRF group (referent), 1.064 (0.707~1.602) for the middle eCRF group, and 1.599 (1.032~2.478) for the lower eCRF group. The current findings suggest that eCRF may have an independent predictor of all-cause mortality, underscoring the importance of promoting physical activity to maintain a healthful level of CRF in Korean geriatric population.

Gender Differences in the Prevalence and Correlates of Elder Abuse in a Community-Dwelling Older Population in Korea.

Background: We examined gender differences in the prevalence estimates and correlates of elder abuse in a community-dwelling older population in Korea. Methods: We analyzed responses from the Living Profiles of Older People Survey (LPOPS), which comprises a nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized Korean older adults living in the community. A total of 10,184 older persons (4179 men and 6005 women) were included in the analysis. Results: The overall rate of elder abuse was 9.9%, and emotional elder abuse was the most frequent type. Of the men and women subjects, 8.8 and 10.6%, respectively, had experienced elder abuse. We observed significant gender differences in the correlates of elder abuse. Educational attainment was significantly associated with elder abuse in men but not in women. Poor self-rated health was significantly associated with elder abuse in women but not in men. Household income and relationship with children were significantly associated with elder abuse in both men and women. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the factors that make elderly persons vulnerable to elder abuse may differ by gender. A better understanding of the risk factors for elder abuse across genders will facilitate the development of elder abuse prevention strategies, practices, and policies.

Weight Status, Physical Activity, and Depression in Korean Older Adults.

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the associations between weight status, physical activity, and depression in Korean older adults.MethodsWe used the baseline data drawn from the 2008 baseline survey utilized in the Living Profiles of Older People Survey, comprised of 15,146 community-dwelling older people (42.6% men and 57.4% women) aged 60 years and older residing in the Republic of Korea. After excluding respondents with missing data on height, weight, and physical activity (PA), data on 10,197 samples (43.3% men and 56.7% women) were analyzed in this study.ResultsUnderweight and completely inactive individuals had poorer sociodemographic and health behavioral characteristics and increased risks of late-life depression compared with normal weight and sufficiently active individuals, respectively. In terms of the aerobic PA guidelines, completely inactive individuals had a significantly higher risk of late-life depression (odds ratio 1.730; 95% confidence interval, 1.412–2.120) compared with sufficiently active individuals, even after adjustments for age, education, household income, night sleeping, living status, marital status, smoking, number of comorbidities, nutritional status, self-reported health status, and cognitive performance as covariates. In addition, those who did not meet the PA guidelines and were underweight or overweight/obese were more likely to have late-life depression compared to those who were active and normal weight.ConclusionsThe current findings of the study suggest that modifiable, lifestyle risk factors, such as physical inactivity, underweight, and overweight/obesity, are positively associated with late-life depression in Korean older adults.