Cross-Sectional Associations between Living and Built Environments and Depression Symptoms among Chinese Older Adults

Fangfang Hou, Xiao Han, Qiong Wang, Shuai Zhou, Jingya Zhang, Guodong Shen and Yan Zhang
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Fangfang Hou: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Xiao Han: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Qiong Wang: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Shuai Zhou: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Jingya Zhang: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Guodong Shen: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Gerontology Institute of Anhui Province, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
Yan Zhang: School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: In this study, we explored the cross-sectional associations between living and built environments and depression among older Chinese adults. Data from 5822 participants were obtained. Depression symptoms were evaluated through the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with a score higher than 4 categorized as having depression symptoms. The living environment was assessed by asking about dust in the environment and barrier-free facilities. We considered the presence of amenities within a 10 min walking distance and the proportion of green space within an 800 m distance from participants’ dwellings to reflect the built environment. Data were analyzed by multilevel logistic regression. Participants living in a non-dusty environment with proximity to green space had a lower risk of depression (non-dusty environment: OR = 0.784, 95% CI = 0.642, 0.956; green space: OR = 0.834, 95% CI = 0.697, 0.998). However, having no access to barrier-free facilities and hospital proximity increased the depression risk (barrier-free facilities: OR = 1.253, 95% CI = 1.078, 1.457; hospital: OR = 1.318, 95% CI = 1.104, 1.574). Dusty environments, access to barrier-free facilities and proximity to hospitals and green spaces were associated with depression symptoms among older Chinese adults.

Keywords: depression symptoms; environment; older adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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