title: Lifetime urban/rural residence, social support and late-life depression in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population ageing and rural-urban migration are accelerating in many non-Western nations. This study aimed to investigate: (i) the association between lifetime urban/rural residence and late-life depression in Korea and (ii) modification of associations between depression and social support by lifetime residence.
  
  
  METHODS
  1204 urban/rural residents aged 65+were interviewed and GMS-AGECAT diagnoses made. Previous areas of residence were recorded and social support deficits quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression was present in 9% and 21% of the rural and urban samples respectively. For the urban sample, depression was not associated with earlier urban/rural residence. Social support deficits were most strongly associated with depression in people with a lifetime rural residence, followed by urban residents with a rural birthplace.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence rates of depression were increased in the urban sample regardless of previous urban/rural residence. Reduced social support was particularly strongly associated with depression in people with a rural upbringing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Kwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Il-Seon
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jin-Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyung-Yung
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*