Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Health Management, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, China.
BMC Psychiatry. 2024 May 10;24(1):354. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05797-x.
Little is known about the state of psychological distress of the elderly in China, and research on specific subgroups such as Hakka older adults is almost lacking. This study investigates psychache and associated factors among Hakka elderly in Fujian, China.
The data analysed in this study were derived from China's Health-Related Quality of Life Survey for Older Adults 2018. The Chinese version of the Psychache Scale (PAS) was used to assess the frequency and intensity of psychache in Hakka older adults. Generalized linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the main socio-demographic factors associated with psychache overall and its frequency and intensity.
A total of 1,262 older adults participated, with mean scores of 18.27 ± 6.88 for total PAS, 12.50 ± 4.79 for PAS-Frequency and 5.77 ± 2.34 for PAS-Intensity. On average, females scored higher than males on PAS-Frequency (β = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.34, 1.35) and PAS-Intensity (β = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.73). Older adults currently living in towns (β = -2.18, 95% CI = -2.81, -1.54), with their spouse only (β = -3.71, 95% CI = -4.77, -2.65), or with children (β = -3.24, 95% CI = -4.26, -2.22) were more likely to score lower on PAS-Frequency. Conversely, older adults who were regular sleepers (β = -1.19, 95% CI =-1.49, -0.88) or lived with their spouse only (β = -1.25, 95% CI = -1.78, -0.72) were more likely to score lower on PAS-Intensity.
Among Hakka elderly, we found a higher frequency and greater intensity of psychache in females, those with poor health status, irregular sleepers, rural residents, solo dwellers, those with below CNY 10,000 in personal savings, and the medically uninsured. The study's findings indicate that policymakers should give more attention to the susceptible population and implement practical interventions to reduce their psychological burden.
目前对于中国老年人心理困扰的状况知之甚少，对于特定亚群如客家老年人的研究几乎没有。本研究调查了中国福建客家老年人的心理困扰及其相关因素。
本研究分析的数据来自于 2018 年中国老年人健康相关生活质量调查。采用心理困扰量表（PAS）中文版评估客家老年人的心理困扰频率和强度。采用广义线性回归分析确定与心理困扰总体及其频率和强度相关的主要社会人口因素。
共有 1262 名老年人参与，总 PAS 得分为 18.27±6.88，PAS 频率得分为 12.50±4.79，PAS 强度得分为 5.77±2.34。平均而言，女性在 PAS 频率（β=0.84，95%置信区间=0.34，1.35）和 PAS 强度（β=0.48，95%置信区间=0.22，0.73）上的得分均高于男性。目前居住在城镇的老年人（β=-2.18，95%置信区间=-2.81，-1.54）、与配偶同住（β=-3.71，95%置信区间=-4.77，-2.65）或与子女同住（β=-3.24，95%置信区间=-4.26，-2.22）的老年人更有可能在 PAS 频率上得分较低。相反，有规律睡眠的老年人（β=-1.19，95%置信区间=-1.49，-0.88）或仅与配偶同住的老年人（β=-1.25，95%置信区间=-1.78，-0.72）更有可能在 PAS 强度上得分较低。
在客家老年人中，我们发现女性、健康状况较差、睡眠不规律、农村居民、独居者、个人储蓄低于 10000 元人民币、未参加医疗保险的老年人心理困扰的频率更高，强度更大。研究结果表明，政策制定者应更加关注易感人群，并实施切实可行的干预措施，减轻他们的心理负担。
