Factors that influence the need for mental health services for older adults in Europe

Abstract Background Mental health is an integral component of health, and affects close to a 100 million Europeans. Little is known about the predictors of older adult’s mental health demand among health systems in European countries. This study is based on the Andersen’s Behavior Model, that predicts that predisposing characteristics, enabling factors, and behavioral factors, influence need or demand factors of healthcare services. Aim This study has two overall objectives: (i) to investigate the determinants of older adults’ mental health services demand; and (ii) examine the relationship between predisposing characteristics, and enabling resources, with services demand. Methods Data from Wave 9, of the of the cross-national panel dataset of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were examined using a sample of 47, 345 older adults. Analysis: The Omnibus test was used to evaluate the fit model and Multinomial Logistics Regression were performed to test the null hypothesis that predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and behavioral factors are not predictors of need or demand. Findings Predisposing characteristics such as gender (b=-.43, s.e.=.017, p<.001) and age (b=-1.96, s.e.=2.2, p<.001), and enabling factors such as homecare (b = 2.40, s.e.=0.1, p<.001), social support (b=-.26, s.e.=0.012, p<.001), financial support receiving (b=.51, s.e.=.086, p<.001), income (b=.09, s.e.=.009, p<.001), and behavioral factors such as use of technology are predictors of mental health services need or demand [Chi-Square= 3319.58, df = 15 and p <.001]. Implications for Policy and Practice Initiatives for the care of older adults should not only aim to increase access to care services for sub populations such as older adults with mental health but also consider enabling resources such as financial and social support and behavioral factors such as use of technology. Key messages • Demand for mental health services for older adults are influenced by predisposing, enabling and behavioral factors. • Investing in financial services, social support and technology may reduce the demand for mental health services among older adults.