Determinants of depressive symptoms among elderly Chinese living alone

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify determinants of depressive symptoms among elderly Chinese people living alone in Hong Kong. The respondents were 1,106 people aged 60 years or older from a cross-sectional survey of a representative community sample of the elderly population in Hong Kong. Of these respondents, 105 lived alone, and data analysis was performed on this sample in the current study. Bivariate correlation indicated that depressive symptoms were associated with age, education, variables related to physical health, variables related to social support, frequency of exercise, and financial strain. Multiple regression analysis revealed that elderly people living alone who had poorer self-rated health, more IADL, less frequent contact with relatives, and higher levels of financial strain, reported more depressive symptoms.