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Relationship of age and gender to the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress in later life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2012

Julie E. Byles ,
Lucy Gallienne ,
Fiona M. Blyth  and
Emily Banks
Julie E. Byles*
Affiliation:
The Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Lucy Gallienne
Affiliation:
The Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Fiona M. Blyth
Affiliation:
The Sax Institute, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Emily Banks
Affiliation:
The Sax Institute, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Julie E. Byles, Director, The Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Phone: +61 (0)2 49138643, 49138321; Fax: +61 (0)2 49138323. Email: julie.byles@newcastle.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: As populations age, psychological distress in late life will become of increasing public health and social importance. This study seeks to bridge the gap in information that exists about psychological distress in late life, by exploring the prevalence of psychological distress among a very large sample of older adults to determine the impact of age and gender, and the modifying effect of these factors on the associations between measures of psychological distress and sociodemographic and comorbid conditions.

Methods: We analyzed self-reported data from 236,508 men and women in the New South Wales 45 and Up Study, to determine the impact of age and gender, and the modifying effects of these factors on associations between psychological distress and sociodemographic and comorbid conditions.

Results: Higher education, married status, and higher income were associated with lower risk of psychological distress. Although overall prevalence of psychological distress is lower at older ages, this increases after age 80, and is particularly associated with physical disabilities. Some older people (such as those requiring help because of disability and those with multiple comorbid health conditions) are at increased risk of psychological distress.

Conclusion: These findings have implications for both healthcare providers and policy-makers in identifying and responding to the needs of older people in our aging society.

Keywords

aginggenderdepressionpsychological distressolder populations
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 6 , June 2012 , pp. 1009 - 1018
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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