An Empirical Study on Factor Associated with Mood Disorders in Elderly: Focusing on the Influence of Community Characteristics / 보건행정학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The mental problems of the elderly are at issue as a serious social phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors affecting the mood disorders of the elderly. METHODS: The subjects were 1,779,236 aged ≥65 and participated in health screening. Dependent variable was mood disorders. Independent variables were consisted of community level (regional deprivation index and healthcare resources) and individual level (sex, age, insurance type, disability, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, body mass index, and healthcare utilization). Multilevel logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: At the individual level, women, employed insured, severely disabled people, heavy alcohol drinkers, high-intensity physical activity, body mass index, and patients who had chronic disease and severe disease were significantly associated with mood disorders. As the age has increased, it has let increase of mood disorders. At the community level, as the regional deprivation index has increased by 1, mood disorders has been increased by 1.005 times. The intra-class coefficient was 7.04%. CONCLUSION: We found individual and community level factors are associated with mood disorders. Systematic approach is essential to reduce mood disorders.