Living Arrangements and Life Without and With Depression in Japan: A Longitudinal Analysis

Objective This study examines how life expectancy (LE) without and with depression differs by living arrangement among older adults in Japan, with particular attention to gender differences. Methods Data were drawn from the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging (1999–2009). Multistate life table methods were used to estimate LE spent without and with depression among adults aged 65 years and older across different living arrangements. Results Pronounced gender differences were observed in the relationship between living arrangements and depression-based health expectancy. Men living alone experienced the longest duration and the highest proportion of their remaining lives with depression, whereas among women, these patterns were observed among those living with their spouse. Discussion Living arrangements shape depression-based health expectancy differently for older men and women in Japan, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive policies that address the social contexts in which they are embedded.