Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in the Philippines

Authors

  • Supa Pengpid Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, 0208 Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, 41354 Taichung, Taiwan
  • Karl Peltzer Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 10400 Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, 9301 Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, 41354 Taichung, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62641/aep.v52i5.1686

Keywords:

depression, older adults, determinants, the Philippines

Abstract

Background: Depressive symptoms may increase with age, potentially influenced by sociodemographic characteristics, stressors and support, health status, and health behaviour. It is unclear if this is the case among older adults in the Philippines. Therefore, the aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of depressive symptoms among older adults in the Philippines.  

Methods: In all, 5209 items of cross-sectional nationally representative data from older adults (≥60 years) participating in the 2018 Longitudinal Study on Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) were analysed. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 11-item 3-response category Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale.  

Results: The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 32.1%, with 25.6% among older men and 36.5% among older women. In the final adjusted models, overall, widowed (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.52, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.00 to 2.30), hunger (AOR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.40 to 3.51), living alone (AOR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.59), not satisfied with present life (AOR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.09 to 3.81), body pain (AOR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.73 to 3.31), and insomnia (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.31) were positively associated, while working (AOR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.80) was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, among men, older age (80 years and above) (AOR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.06 to 3.58), unmet healthcare needs (AOR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.07 to 4.47), and hearing difficulty (AOR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.06 to 5.52) were positively associated poor childhood health (AOR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.36), while social network (AOR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90 to 0.99) was negatively associated. Among women, loss of bladder control (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.77) was positively associated with depressive symptoms.  

Conclusion: One in three older adults participating in this study exhibited depressive symptoms. Sociodemographic factors, stressors, and health status factors were positively associated, and support factors were negatively associated with depressive symptoms.

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Published

2024-10-05

How to Cite

Pengpid, Supa, and Karl Peltzer. “Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in the Philippines”. Actas Españolas De Psiquiatría, vol. 52, no. 5, Oct. 2024, pp. 705-1, doi:10.62641/aep.v52i5.1686.

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 5 (2024)

Section

Article