Prevalence of depressive symptoms and related risk factors for depressive symptoms among elderly persons living in a rural Japanese community: a cross-sectional study

Community Ment Health J. 2007 Dec;43(6):583-90. doi: 10.1007/s10597-007-9096-5. Epub 2007 Jul 6.

Abstract

To clarify the prevalence of depression in a rural community in Japan and to evaluate the social and familial risk factors for depression, with the goal of suicide prevention, a questionnaire survey was conducted on a total of 2,763 elderly persons. The determined prevalence of depressive symptoms (Zung's self-rated depression scale score of 50 points or more) was 10.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed associations between depressive symptoms and age, absence of a friendly companion, irritation with one's family, frequent loneliness, the opinion that stress has a large impact on one's life, suicide ideation, and poor subjective physical and mental health.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Data Collection
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology*
  • Family Relations
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Loneliness
  • Male
  • Mortality
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Prevalence
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Surveys and Questionnaires