Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Population Studies Unit, Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Asia Pac J Public Health. 2024 May;36(4):352-357. doi: 10.1177/10105395241244960. Epub 2024 Apr 8.
China's aging population has witnessed a surge in widowed older adults, raising concerns about their mental health. Losing a spouse is a profoundly distressing experience with enduring effects on well-being. Despite the proverbial belief in time's healing power, existing studies often neglect the potential decline in depressive symptoms during widowhood. Drawing data from the 2015 and 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study delved into the impact of widowhood duration on depression among 8370 older adults and uncovered significantly higher depression scores among widowed individuals, particularly in the initial three years. This study revealed that widowhood contributes to heightened depression levels even after accounting for sociodemographic factors. Although the depressive impact lessens over time, it persists beyond three years, underscoring the need for heightened awareness and support for this vulnerable population.
中国的老龄化人口中丧偶的老年人数量激增，这引起了人们对他们心理健康的关注。失去配偶是一种非常痛苦的经历，会对幸福感产生持久的影响。尽管有“时间会治愈一切”的说法，但现有研究往往忽略了丧偶期间抑郁症状可能会减轻的情况。本研究利用 2015 年和 2018 年中国健康与退休纵向研究的数据，深入探讨了丧偶持续时间对 8370 名老年人抑郁的影响，结果发现丧偶者的抑郁评分显著更高，尤其是在丧偶的最初三年。本研究表明，即使考虑到社会人口因素，丧偶也会导致抑郁水平升高。虽然随着时间的推移，抑郁的影响会减轻，但在三年后仍会持续存在，这凸显了需要提高对这一弱势群体的认识并为他们提供支持。
