Depressive Symptom Trajectories and Associated Risks among Korean Elderly

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent studies conducting changes in depressive symptoms among the elderly reported mixed results. The present study sought to determine if subgroups of elderly Koreans follow distinctive depressive symptom trajectories and the characteristics associated with the depressive symptom trajectories. METHODS: Subjects were those who had participated in a longitudinal study of quality of life in older adults. A latent class mixture model was examined to identify the trajectories of depressive symptom changes with time. RESULTS: We found four depressive symptom trajectories. Poorer health status, poor economic status, and less social support were risk factors in the high depression group. CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention to help elderly individuals manage their health, economic concerns, and social relationships may decrease the risk of high level depression.