Sex and age differences in depressive symptoms among older adults in Jeju, Korea: an analysis of the 2017 Community Health Survey data

This study investigated sex- and age-related differences in socioeconomic status, health, and mental well-being, focusing on depressive symptoms, among older adults in Jeju, Korea. We analyzed 1,471 participants, aged 65 years, from the 2017 Community Health Survey. The independent variables included socioeconomic, health, and mental health characteristics. The dependent variable, having depressive symptoms, was a binary variable created based on responses to the nine items of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Complex sample analyses included t-tests, Rao-Scott chi-square tests, and logistic regressions. Women in both age groups were more socioeconomically vulnerable than men, with lower educational levels, higher rates of living without a spouse, and greater food insecurity. Arthritis was also more prevalent in women. Moreover, women had shorter sleep durations and were more vulnerable to depressive symptoms, although statistical significance was found in only 50% of women. These sex differences largely plateaued in the late elderly. Conversely, late-elderly men appeared to have more depressive symptoms than early elderly men. For women, belonging to the late elderly group was associated with a lower likelihood of having depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.98; P=0.041). Interestingly, chewing discomfort is a significant risk factor among women. No significantly associated factors were identified in men. In conclusion, while older women showed greater vulnerability, lower-than-expected depressive symptoms in late elderly women suggest resilience. Interventions should be tailored to distinct subgroup risks, particularly in resource-limited settings.