Gautam Ramraj, Saito Tami, Kai Ichiro
Department of Social Gerontology, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
BMC Public Health. 2007 Oct 22;7:299. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-299.
Involvement in activities has been found to be beneficial for improving quality of life and successful aging for older adults. Little is known, however, about the involvement in activities and depression of older adults in Asian developing countries. This study explores whether participation in leisure social and religious activities are related to depression and satisfaction with life in older adults of Nepal. Gender differences are also explored.
The study sample was derived from a survey which aimed to determine the intergenerational relationships between older adults and their married sons. A cross-sectional quantitative study of older adults sixty years and over in Nepal was conducted with face-to-face interviews using structured instruments. A convenience sample of 489 community dwelling older adults, 247 men and 242 women, were included in the study. The dependent variables, depression and satisfaction with life, were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) respectively. Age, gender, marital status, education, perceived health, financial satisfaction, social support received and provided by older adults, and social activity were independent variables in the study.
Saying prayers (B = -2.75; p < 0.005), watching television and listening to the radio (B = -1.88; p < 0.05), and participating in physical activity (B = -1.05; p < 0.05) correlated to lower depression for older men, but only watching television and listening to the radio (B = -2.68; p < 0.005) related to lower rates of depression for women. Socializing with others (B = 1.22; p < 0.05) was related to higher satisfaction with life for men, but for women visiting friends (B = 1.29; p < 0.05), socializing with others (B = 1.45; p < 0.005), and watching television and listening to the radio (B = 0.92; p < 0.05) related to improved satisfaction with life. Activity engagement significantly improved mental health in older adults.
Specific activity participation was a significant correlate of lower levels of depression and higher levels of satisfaction with life among older adults in Nepal. The findings explore the need for further research on activity participation in developing countries so that it can be useful for health care practioners and those involved with the activities of aged populations in developing countries.
已发现参与活动有益于提高老年人的生活质量并实现成功老龄化。然而，对于亚洲发展中国家老年人的活动参与情况及抑郁状况却知之甚少。本研究探讨尼泊尔老年人参与休闲社交和宗教活动是否与抑郁及生活满意度相关。同时也探讨了性别差异。
研究样本源自一项旨在确定老年人与其已婚儿子之间代际关系的调查。对尼泊尔60岁及以上的老年人进行了一项横断面定量研究，采用结构化工具进行面对面访谈。本研究纳入了489名居住在社区的老年人，其中247名男性和242名女性，为便利样本。分别采用老年抑郁量表（GDS）和生活满意度量表（SWLS）测量因变量抑郁和生活满意度。年龄、性别、婚姻状况、教育程度、感知健康状况、经济满意度、老年人接受和提供的社会支持以及社会活动为研究中的自变量。
祈祷（B = -2.75；p < 0.005）、看电视和听广播（B = -1.88；p < 0.05）以及参与体育活动（B = -1.05；p < 0.05）与老年男性较低的抑郁水平相关，但只有看电视和听广播（B = -2.68；p < 0.005）与老年女性较低的抑郁发生率相关。与他人社交（B = 1.22；p < 0.05）与男性较高的生活满意度相关，但对于女性而言，拜访朋友（B = 1.29；p < 0.05）、与他人社交（B = 1.45；p < 0.005）以及看电视和听广播（B = 0.92；p < 0.05）与生活满意度的提高相关。参与活动显著改善了老年人的心理健康。
特定活动的参与是尼泊尔老年人抑郁水平较低和生活满意度较高的显著相关因素。研究结果表明需要对发展中国家的活动参与情况进行进一步研究，以便对医疗保健从业者以及参与发展中国家老年人群活动的人员有所帮助。
