The Effect of Changes in Family Developmental Stage According to Child Independence on the Incidence of Depression in South Korean Middle-Aged Adults

ABSTRACT

Background@#The incidence of depression in middle-aged adults is increasing and has been affected by physiological changes and various sociodemographic factors. The present study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between depression and changes in the family developmental stage based on child independence in South Korean middle-aged adults living with children. @*Methods@#This study included 1,593 people in the age group of 45-64 years who participated in the first survey of the Korean longitudinal study of aging in 2006. Participants did not have depression, lived with unmarried children, and responded to Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression 10 scale and child-related questions in the 7th survey (2018). The chi-squared test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare differences in depression according to general characteristics and family developmental stage. The generalized estimating equation model was used to longitudinally examine the effect of changes in the family developmental stage on the incidence of depression from the 1st to the 7th survey. @*Results@#Changes in the family developmental stage based on child independence have a significant effect on the incidence of depression in middle-aged adults (P=0.000). In addition, in the generalized estimating equation model, the longitudinal association between changes in the family developmental stage and the incidence of depression was confirmed. @*Conclusions@#Therefore, confirming the independence of children as an important factor is essential in the management of depression in middle-aged adults.