Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Marital status and risk for late life depression: a meta-analysis of the published literature
X-Y Yan1, S-M Huang, C-Q Huang
1Department of Nephrology, The West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
This study assessed the relationship between marital status and the risk for depression in people ≥ 55 years old. Using the Medline™, EMBASE™ and Cochrane Library databases, clinical studies that published data on the association between marital status and risk of depression among individuals aged ≥ 55 years were identified. A quantitative meta-analysis of 24 cross-sectional and eight longitudinal studies was performed. Compared with married elderly people, unmarried elderly people had a higher risk for depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; relative risk [RR], 1.36). Compared with married elderly people, the widowed elderly people (OR 1.49; RR 1.71), divorced people (RR 2.14) and never-married people (OR 1.32) had a higher risk for depression. Among elderly unmarried people, widowed people had a higher risk for depression than those who never married (OR 1.51). In conclusion, being unmarried was an important risk factor for depression in elderly people.
Related Concept Videos
Long-term Depression
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Relationship Formation