Factors influencing depression among older adults living alone in the community, Hangzhou, China
Keywords:
Community, Depression, Loneliness, Living aloneAbstract
Depression in older adults is a significant public health issue with broad impacts on individuals, their families, their communities, and society. It is often underrecognized, especially among older adults living alone in the community, which can lead to loneliness, unhappiness, and a potential suicide risk if left untreated. Therefore, identifying risk factors is crucial for early intervention. This predictive correlational research study aimed to examine factors influencing depression among older adults living alone in the community in Hangzhou, China. The samples consisted of 321 older adults living alone in the community in Hangzhou, China, who were recruited via random sampling. Data were collected from January 1 to March 30, 2025, using the following instruments: 1) a demographic questionnaire, 2) the Self-Rated General Health scale, 3) the Barthel Index, 4) Loneliness Scale, 5) the Social Support Rating Scale, 6) the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPA-I), and 7) the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression.
The findings showed that 38.0% of the participants had suggestive symptoms of depression, while 1.6% met the criteria for depression. Multiple regression analysis showed that activities of daily living (ADL), perceived health status, and loneliness collectively accounted for 41.1% of the variance in depression (F (3, 317) = 25.714, p-value < 0.05). The strongest predictor was ADL ( = -0.341, p-value < 0.001), followed by perceived health status (
= -0.256, p-value < 0.001), and loneliness (
= 0.235, p-value < 0.001). The study results provide foundational knowledge regarding depression and its predictive factors. Therefore, to reduce the likelihood of depression among community-dwelling older adults living alone, healthcare providers should consider incorporating factors such as ADL, perceived health status, and loneliness into the design of interventions or programs to prevent depression in elderly people living alone in the community.
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