Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Related Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms among Elderly Persons Living in a Rural Japanese Community: a Cross-Sectional Study

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
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.