Lifetime urban/rural residence, social support and late-life depression in Korea

✍ Scribed by Jae-Min Kim; Robert Stewart; Il-Seon Shin; Jin-Sang Yoon; Hyung-Yung Lee

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 87 KB
• Volume: 19
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1175

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Population ageing and rural–urban migration are accelerating in many non‐Western nations. This study aimed to investigate: (i) the association between lifetime urban/rural residence and late‐life depression in Korea and (ii) modification of associations between depression and social support by lifetime residence.

Methods

1204 urban/rural residents aged 65+were interviewed and GMS‐AGECAT diagnoses made. Previous areas of residence were recorded and social support deficits quantified.

Results

Depression was present in 9% and 21% of the rural and urban samples respectively. For the urban sample, depression was not associated with earlier urban/rural residence. Social support deficits were most strongly associated with depression in people with a lifetime rural residence, followed by urban residents with a rural birthplace.

Conclusions

Prevalence rates of depression were increased in the urban sample regardless of previous urban/rural residence. Reduced social support was particularly strongly associated with depression in people with a rural upbringing. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.