title: Changes in depression among older adults in China: A latent transition analysis.
abstract: Depression in late life is an important public health problem in developing countries. It is timely to investigate stability and transition patterns of depressive symptom subtypes.
  
  
  
  Longitudinal data were used from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 853 women and 930 men aged 60-96 years were recruited. Latent class and latent transition analysis (LCA/LTA) were used to identify meaningful subgroups, transitions between those classes across time, and baseline demographic features that help to predict and design tailored interventions.
  
  
  
  Three depression subgroups were identified: Class 1 was labeled "Mild Depression"; Class 2 was labeled "Severe Depression" and class 3 was labeled "Lack of Positive Affect". A predominant tendency for stability appeared rather than change, meanwhile individual in Mild Depression and Severe Depression latent status both had a high probability to convert to the Lack of Positive Affect latent status. Social activities played a significant role in buffering the effect of depression, while individuals with chronic diseases, having difficulty with ADLs and smoking might be at-risk groups.
  
  
  
  The limitations of the present study were inherent limitation in the LTA model and some small proportion of transitions.
  
  
  
  This study demonstrated a transition pattern in older adult depression within a person-centered approach. Differential treatment effects were found across baseline depression class, suggesting the benefit for tailored intervention programs to improve depression outcomes among older adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA.
authors.forename: Jenn-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tein
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: 2640726401@qq.com.
authors.forename: Minqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yawei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Guoting
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012179:Retirement; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Depression; Latent transition analysis; Older adults; Predictive factors