title: Neighborhood support network, perceived proximity to community facilities and depressive symptoms among low socioeconomic status Chinese elders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depressive symptoms are common in older people; most previous research on elderly depression focused on individual-level characteristics or neighborhood socioeconomic status. Modifiable neighborhood characteristics of older people dwelling in low-income communities are under-studied. This study aims to identify potentially modifiable social and physical neighborhood characteristics that influence depressive symptoms independent of individual-level characteristics among older Chinese.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from a cross-sectional survey conducted in four low-income public rental housing estates in Hong Kong in 2012. We interviewed a total of 400 elderly residents. The structured questionnaire covered demographics, activities of daily living, recent fall history, neighborhood support networks, and perceived proximity by walk to community facilities. Multiple regression was used to test whether inclusion of neighborhood factors in addition to individual characteristics increases model fit in explaining depressive symptoms in elders with low socioeconomic status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At individual level, activities of daily living and income significantly predicted depressive symptoms. Receiving support from friends or neighbors is associated with fewer depressive symptoms. However, participants who received organizational support had a 1.17 points of increase on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). At-ease walkable proximity to medical facilities was positively associated with a better GDS score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neighborhood support networks and perceived proximity by walk to community facilities contribute significantly to depressive symptoms among low-income elders. Programs and policies that facilitate neighborhood support and commuting or promote facility accessibility may help ameliorate depressive symptoms common among low-income elders.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social Work , Fudan University , Shanghai , China.|b Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: b Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Gloria H Y
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: b Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.|c Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Terry Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lum
authors.affiliation: c Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Vivian W Q
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: d Division of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Andy H Y
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: b Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: b Sau Po Center on Ageing , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China.
authors.forename: Tracy L W
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking
keywords: depressive symptoms; low-SES elders; neighborhood; perceived walkability; support networks