Gender differences in correlates of mental health among elderly Koreans.
OBJECTIVE
. This study examined the differential impact of social roles and socioeconomic resources on the mental health of Korean men and women aged 65 years or older.


METHODS
The study sample was a weighted population of 930 people (905 survey samples) aged 65 years or older who had responded to the health behavior survey of the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.


RESULTS
We observed striking gender differences in the correlates of poor mental health. Living alone was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in men but not in women. Living in a multigenerational family without a spouse and having a lower household income were significantly associated with poor mental health in both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
We discuss the intriguing evidence of gender differences in the correlates of mental health within the context of traditional Asian society and suggest further research on social components of gender differences in mental health across diverse cultures.
Jeon
Gyeong-Suk
GS
Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jang
Soong-Nang
SN
Rhee
Seon-Ja
SJ
Kawachi
Ichiro
I
Cho
Sung-Il
SI
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology