Social predictors of depression in older adults - a cross-sectional study

Objective: Depressive symptoms represent a significant health problem among older adults and are influenced by a variety of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between selected psychosocial and sociodemographic characteristics and the occurrence of depressive symptoms in people 65 years and older. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), which is a validated screening tool designed for the elderly population. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test and Cramr's V to assess the strength of the associations between variables. The research sample consisted of 403 people aged 65 years and older, selected through quota sampling. The sample was representative of the population of the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic in terms of sex and age. Results: 64.0% of the study participants showed no signs of depression. Mild depressive symptoms were identified in 24.1% of the respondents, while 11.9% exhibited severe depressive symptoms. Weak associations with depressive symptoms were observed for widowhood, living in an institutional care facility, and age over 80 years, while substantially stronger associations were found for several psychosocial characteristics, particularly persistent feelings of unhappiness or sadness, persistent low mood, and feelings of emptiness or loss of meaning in life. In contrast, protective factors included being married, living in a shared household, having children, attainment of higher education, and male gender. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors in identifying older adults at risk of depressive symptoms. From a clinical perspective, the results underscore the need for targeted screening and preventive interventions, particularly among socially isolated and older individuals.