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[Association between loneliness and risks of depressive episode among rural older people]
Zhenjun Yu1, Yuanye Gu1, Shuiyuan Xiao1
1School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
Objective:
To investigate association between loneliness and depressive episode among rural older people. Methods: A total of 839 rural adults (aged over 60 years) from Liuyang in Hunan were enrolled by using multi-stage cluster sampling method. The Short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Life Events Scale for the Elderly, Quality of Life Scale, and the Activity of Daily Living Scale were used to assess loneliness, the social support condition, the stimulating quantity of negative life events, the quality of life, and the abilities of daily life activities, respectively. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders questionnaire survey was performed by a face-to-face interview. Results: The prevalence rate of depressive episode among the rural older people was 6.8%. Multivariable analysis showed that the elderly who were with stronger loneliness were the risk factor of depression (OR=1.126, 95%CI 1.038 to 1.221). Conclusion: Loneliness is positively associated with an increased risk of depressive episode.