Mood disorders among older Canadians

An increasing number of Canadians are living with mental health problems, including mood disorders. However, few studies have examined the prevalence of, and factors associated with, mood disorders among older Canadians (65 years or older).

A pooled sample of 172,524 community-dwelling older Canadians from nine cycles of the annual Canadian Community Health Survey - 2015 to 2023 - was used to examine mood disorders and associated correlates. Multivariable logistic regression, stratified by sex, was implemented to identify factors associated with mood disorders.

From 2015 to 2023, on average, 7.0% of older Canadians reported a diagnosis of a mood disorder, with females (8.3%) more likely than males (5.5%) to do so. In a multivariable analysis that adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, geographic, and health-related factors, Indigenous people (males and females) had higher odds of having a mood disorder than non-Indigenous, non-racialized populations. South Asian and Chinese males, as well as females belonging to Black and Other racialized groups, had significantly lower odds compared with their non-Indigenous, non-racialized counterparts. Living alone, being a male immigrant, and having lower household income were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing mood disorders among older Canadians.

The results of this study highlight the importance of considering racialized population groups, as well as socioeconomic, geographic, and health-related factors - separately for males and females - when examining mood disorders among older Canadians to inform screening and intervention programs.