J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2012 Mar;21(1):1-10.

Prevalence and Correlates of Depression in Older Koreans: Comparison of Young-old and Old-old

• Lim KC
• Kim S

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and correlates of depression among community-dwelling older adults (young-old vs old-old) in Korea.
METHODS
Data on 11,250 older adults aged 65 or above, from the 2008 National Elderly Survey, were analyzed.
RESULTS
Prevalence rate for depression was greater in old-old people (47.2%) than young-old people (24.7%). The logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, education, socioeconomic status (SES), living place, spouse, regular exercise, perceived health status, number of chronic disease, activity of daily living (ADL), instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), and cognitive function were significantly associated with depression in the young-old. However, in old-old people, education, SES, living status, religion, regular exercise, perceived health status, number of chronic disease, pain, ADL, IADL, and cognitive function were associated with depression.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that there are age differences in prevalence and correlates of depression in older Koreans. Therefore, age differences should be considered in studying and developing interventions for depression in older adults.

Keyword

Depression; Elderly; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Aged
Chronic Disease
Depression
Humans
Hypogonadism
Logistic Models
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
Prevalence
Social Class
Spouses
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia

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