Centre for Policy on Ageing



Living alone and depression in Chinese older adults
Author(s)	K-L Chou, A H Y Ho, I Chi
Journal title	Aging & Mental Health, vol 10, no 6, November 2006
Pages	pp 583-591
Source	http://www.tandfonline.com
Keywords	Living alone ; Depression ; Correlation ; Hong Kong.
Annotation	Western literature has repeatedly indicated a strong relationship between living alone and depression in older people. However, studies among the Chinese population are scarce. This paper is the first to report that living alone is an independent risk factor contributing to depression among Chinese older women, as well as identifying common significant factors including social support and health indicators that can affect and explain the link between living alone and depression. The authors analysed cross-sectional data on 2005 Chinese people aged 60+ from the Hong Kong Population Census. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses revealed that living alone results in higher levels of depressive symptoms for older women but not for older men. The relationship remained significant even when sociodemographic variables, health indicators, social support, and financial strains were adjusted, yet the impact of living alone with depression disappeared when all variables were controlled. Preventive measures and related issues are discussed. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-061211206 A
Classmark	K8: ENR: 49: 7DR
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.