Social and gender inequalities in depressive symptoms among urban older adults of latin america and the Caribbean.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined gender differences in depression by examining differential exposure and vulnerability to socioeconomic factors during the life course.


METHODS
The data used for the analyses originated from a cross-national survey of older adults living in seven large Latin American cities. We examined associations between depressive symptomatology and socioeconomic conditions and health indicators in childhood, adulthood, and old age. We used the Geriatric Depression Scale to classify respondents with high levels of depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
The prevalence of depression in the urban population of Latin America was relatively low, ranging across cities from 0.4 to 5.2% in men and from 0.3 to 9.5% in women. Women were more exposed to social and material disadvantages during their life course than men but were not more vulnerable to them than men. Current socioeconomic conditions and health status as well as functional disabilities mainly accounted for gender differences in the prevalence of depression. Additionally, poor health and hunger during childhood, as well as illiteracy or lack of education, were associated with depression in both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
Cumulative life course exposure to social and material disadvantage and current material, social, and health conditions explain the higher frequency of depression in women.
Alvarado
Beatriz Eugenia
BE
Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, CP 6128, Succursale Centre Ville, H3C 3J7, Montréal, Québec, Canada. be.alvarado.llano@umontreal.ca
Zunzunegui
Maria Victoria
MV
Béland
Francois
F
Sicotte
Maryline
M
Tellechea
Lourdes
L
D017691:Caribbean Region; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population