Mental Health
Risk factors of Trajectories of Depression in Adults over 65 years old Sujeong Han* Sujeong Han Han Seoul National University
[Background]
With advancements in science and medical technology, human life expectancy has increased, making aging societies a global phenomenon. Aging is accompanied by various physical and psychological changes, including declines in cognitive and slower emotional responses, and personality changes. Among these, emotional changes particularly depression are of significant concern in older adults. Late life depression is known to be associated with several factors such as gender, age, chronic diseases, lifestyle habits, and subjective health status. Rather than examining these associations at a single point in time, a longitudinal approach that captures the trajectories of depressive symptoms over time provides a more appropriate framework for understanding the evolution of depression in older populations.
[Purpose]
This study aims to identify distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms in adults aged 65 and older, and to examine how previously established risk factors influence differences between these trajectory groups.
[Methods]
Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2022 were analyzed. A total of 10,254 participants aged 65 years and above were included in the final analysis. Group-Based Trajectory Modeling was applied to identify heterogeneous patterns of depression over time. Subsequently, risk factors identified in previous literature were included as independent variables in a multinomial logistic regression model to explore their associations with trajectory group membership.
[Results]
This study identified four distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults: a group with consistently low levels of depression, a group with initially high symptoms that decreased over time, a group whose symptoms increased over the study period, and a group with persistently high levels of depression.
Individuals with poor lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity were more likely to belong to the persistently high depression group compared to those with stable low depressive symptoms. In addition, lower household income, lower levels of education, and a lack of engagement in social activities were significantly associated with increased odds of being in the high depression trajectory group. The presence of chronic conditions was also linked to a greater likelihood of maintaining high levels of depression over time.
[Conclusion]
These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including improvements in health behaviors, economic support, and facilitation of social and economic engagement for older adults. Such strategies may help prevent or alleviate chronic depressive symptoms in the aging population.
