Social activity and improvement in depressive symptoms in older people: a prospective community cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate: i) the association between level of social activity and late-life depressive symptoms and ii) the association between level of social activity and improvement in depressive symptoms over a 2-year period among people scoring above case level.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of data from a prospective community-based study.


METHODS
Montpellier district, France.


METHODS
Community residents aged 65 and older (N = 1,849), 85.4% of whom were reassessed after a 2-year interval.


METHODS
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale at baseline and follow-up, and the standard 16 + cutoff was applied to define case-level symptomatology. The primary independent variable assessed at baseline was three levels of social activity defined from a 33-point scale. Other covariates included age, gender, marital status, education, alcohol consumption, chronic illness, cognitive impairment, disability, life events, and antidepressant use at baseline and follow-up.


RESULTS
In the sample at baseline (N = 1,849), higher social activity was negatively associated with case-level depressive symptomatology after adjustment for potential confounders (odds ratio across three groups 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.6-0.8). In a prospective analysis of participants above case level at baseline (N = 463), high-social activity at baseline was the only variable associated with improvement in depressive symptoms and remained significant after adjustment for all other factors (odds ratio=1.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-2.2).


CONCLUSIONS
In a large community sample, higher social activity was associated with a lower risk of late-life depressive symptoms at baseline and, in those with case-level baseline symptoms, was the principal factor predicting improvement over 2-year follow-up.
Isaac
Vivian
V
King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Section of Epidemiology, London, UK.
Stewart
Robert
R
Artero
Sylvaine
S
Ancelin
Marie-Laure
ML
Ritchie
Karen
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012934:Social Isolation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents