Risk Factors for Depression in Empty Nesters: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Coastal City of Zhejiang Province and China

Yecheng Yao, Gangqiang Ding, Liaoliao Wang, Ye Jin, Jianwei Lin, Yujia Zhai, Tao Zhang, Fan He and Weigang Fan
Additional contact information
Yecheng Yao: National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
Gangqiang Ding: National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China
Liaoliao Wang: Wenling Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenling 317500, China
Ye Jin: Wenling Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenling 317500, China
Jianwei Lin: Wenling Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenling 317500, China
Yujia Zhai: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
Tao Zhang: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
Fan He: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China
Weigang Fan: Wenling Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenling 317500, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: The elderly are susceptible to depression, especially empty nesters. This study investigated the risk factors associated with depression in empty nesters. The participants were selected via multi-stage random cluster sampling. Depression symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale. The questionnaire surveyed demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, behaviors and lifestyles, negative life experiences, social support, self-care ability, etc. Chronic health conditions, such as being overweight/obese, smoking cessation, cancer, and chronic pain, as well as negative life experiences, such as the death of a loved one and financial loss, increased the risk of depression in empty nesters. In addition, the incapability of performing self-care also increased the risk of depression in empty nesters. The prevalence of depression in empty nesters was high. Being overweight/obese, cancer, chronic pain, smoking cessation, the death of a loved one, financial loss, and the incapability to deliver self-care were risk factors for depression in empty nesters. It is recommended that comprehensive measures be taken to enhance health interventions for this population, including encouraging a proper diet and physical activity for weight control, providing psychological counseling after negative life experiences, and teaching correct methods of smoking cessation.

Keywords: risk factors; depression; empty nesters (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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