title: [Study on the prevalence and risk factors of depressive symptoms among 'empty-nest' and 'non-empty-nest' elderly in four provinces and cities in China].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms among 'empty-nest' and 'non-empty-nest' elderly in four cities/provinces.
  
  
  METHODS
  4265 elderly aged 60 and over, were recruited with cluster sampling method in Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Guangdong and Shanxi province and interviewed, using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule and self-developed related questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The prevalence of depressive symptoms for 'empty-nest' elderly was (8.18%), significantly higher than that for 'non-empty-nest' elderly (P=0.019); (2) the 'empty-nest' elderly had a significantly higher proportion of the following factors: being male, married, with higher income (≥15,000 Yuan/year), living in city, with high education background, under employment etc. than the 'non-empty-nest' elderly (P<0.0001); (3) the 'empty-nest' elderly had significantly higher proportions on good self-rated health status and life (P=0.0001, P<0.0001) as well as heavier health problems and economic difficulties (P=0.001, P=0.002); (4) there were significantly negative associations between depressive symptoms and the following 10 factors: being female, single, having bad self-rated health and life status, having somatic disease≥3, with big health problems in the last two years and loss of dearest persons, community engagement and involvement of religious activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 'empty-nest' elderly showed higher prevalence of having depressive symptoms than the 'non-empty-nest' elderly. The 'empty-nest' elderly had characteristics as being single, female, having adverse event etc. and should be under greater attention for care.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Administration, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jia-ji
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jian-zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ruo-ling
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors