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Which categories of social and lifestyle activities moderate the association between negative life events and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in Japan?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2011

Yuriko Katsumata ,
Asuna Arai ,
Kozo Ishida ,
Masashi Tomimori ,
Romeo B. Lee  and
Hiko Tamashiro
Yuriko Katsumata*
Affiliation:
Center of Residency and Fellowship Program, University of the Ryukyus Hospital, Okinawa, Japan
Asuna Arai
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
Kozo Ishida
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
Masashi Tomimori
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
Romeo B. Lee
Affiliation:
Behavioral Sciences Department, De La Salle University, Manila, The Philippines
Hiko Tamashiro
Affiliation:
Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Yuriko Katsumata, Center of Residency and Fellowship Program, University of the Ryukyus Hospital, 207 Uehara Nishihara Okinawa 903-0215, Japan. Phone: +81-98-895-3331 (ext. 4121); Fax: +81-98-895-1500. Email: y-katsu@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.
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Abstract

Background: Social and lifestyle activities may serve as potential moderators of the association between negative life events (NLEs) and depressive symptoms among older adults. In this study, we examined whether social and lifestyle activities moderate the association between NLEs and depressive symptoms among older adults, and which activities are significant moderators.

Methods: The data came from a community-based sample of non-institutionalized adults aged 65 years or older. Of the 731 eligible older adults, 682 completed the Japanese version of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale. We measured 15 specific negative life events as well as 17 social and lifestyle activities which were grouped into four categories.

Results: Specific NLEs pertaining to human relationships, physical condition and financial status were all or were mostly associated with depressive symptoms. Significant moderating roles of social and lifestyle activities on the association of NLEs with depressive symptoms were observed between “loss of a significant other” and “contact with family members and friends” (β = −0.282, SE = 0.091, p = 0.002); “change in human relationships” and “contact with family members and friends” (β = −0.270, SE = 0.137, p = 0.048); and “change in human relationships” and “community involvement” (β = −0.344, SE = 0.133, p = 0.010).

Conclusions: The most statistically significant variable moderating the associations between negative life events and depressive symptoms was “having frequent contact with family members”. Depressive symptoms arising from troublesome interpersonal relationships in one's proximal network might be moderated by positive interpersonal relationships.

Keywords

depressive symptomsnegative life eventssocial and lifestyle activityJapanese older adults
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , February 2012 , pp. 307 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

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