Unmet Healthcare Needs Predict Depression Symptoms among Older Adults

Jonas Eimontas, Goda Gegieckaitė, Olga Zamalijeva and Vilmantė Pakalniškienė
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Jonas Eimontas: Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Universiteto Str. 9/1, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
Goda Gegieckaitė: Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Universiteto Str. 9/1, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
Olga Zamalijeva: Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Universiteto Str. 9/1, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilmantė Pakalniškienė: Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Universiteto Str. 9/1, 01513 Vilnius, Lithuania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Risk factors for depression in older adults include significant interpersonal losses, increasing social isolation, and deteriorating physical abilities and health that require healthcare. The effects of unmet healthcare needs on depression in older adults are understudied. This study aimed to analyze the association between unmet healthcare needs and symptoms of depression, sleep, and antidepressant medication while controlling for other significant factors among older adults. For this study, we used a multinational database from The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), containing data of individuals aged 50 and older. The final sample used in this research consisted of 39,484 individuals from 50 to 100 years (mean − 71.15, SD ± 9.19), 42.0 percent of whom were male. Three path models exploring relationships between symptoms of depression at an older age and unmet healthcare needs were produced and had a good model fit. We found that unmet healthcare needs were directly related to depression, activity limitations were related to depression directly and through unmet healthcare needs, whereas financial situation mostly indirectly through unmet healthcare needs. We discuss how depression itself could increase unmet healthcare needs.

Keywords: older adults; depression; unmet healthcare needs; SHARE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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