Relationship of social capital with anxiety and depression in urban elderly population in China / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives:To examine the relationship of social capital with anxiety and depression symptoms among urban elderly in China.Methods:A household survey by using self-administered questionnaires was conducted in 3 communities in Jinan,Shandong Province and the data of 925 people aged 60 years or over were collected.The social capital indicators according to its operational definition and Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SAS) and Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale were used.The social capital factors were extracted by using exploratory factor analysis and were dichotomized to conduct logistic regression analysis.Results:The average standard scores of SAS and SDS were (35.8 ±6.9) and (41.9 ±8.7),respectively.The proportion of anxiety symptom was 4.4％ and that of depression symptom was 19.0％.Logistic regression analysis showed that perceived social support,perceived trust,reciprocity and safety and social participation were associated with self-rating depression(Ps＜ 0.05).Perceived social support (OR ＝ 0.29,95 ％ CI0.20-0.44),perceived trust,reciprocity and safety (OR ＝0.49,95％ CI0.33-0.72) and social participation (OR ＝ 0.66,95％ CI0.45-0.98) were protective factors of depression.No significant association between social capital factors and anxiety was found.Conclusion:It suggests that social capital could be a target for elderly people's mental health promotion in China.Additional efforts should be taken on enhancing the elderly people's perceived support,trust and safety from their families and communities,as well as providing more opportunities of social activities in the neighborhoods.