Prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among veterans home elders in Eastern Taiwan

Yan Chiou Ku, Wen Chien Liu, Yun Fang Tsai*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Depression in the elderly has become a serious health care issue worldwide. However, no studies have determined the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among a representative sample of veterans home elders in Taiwan. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among veterans home elders in eastern Taiwan. Method: Elderly veterans (n = 947) were recruited from four veterans homes in eastern Taiwan. Results: The prevalence of depressive tendency was 35.5%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that depressive status in this sample was significantly predicted by poorer functional status, dissatisfaction with living situation, poorer perceived health status, and lower education level. Conclusions: The risk factors for depressive symptoms identified in this study need to be considered when assessing the health of elderly veterans. In addition, strategies to improve elderly veterans' perception of health status, physical function and living situation hould be considered in interventions to reduce their depressive symptoms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1181-1186
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume21
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 2006

Keywords

  • Depressive symptoms
  • Elderly
  • Veterans homes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among veterans home elders in Eastern Taiwan'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this