Kim Chanhee, Ko Heesung
Department of Nursing, Changwon National University, 20 Changwondaehak-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si 51140, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea.
Department of Nursing, Jesus University, 383 Seowon-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si 54989, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Sep 12;13(18):2281. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13182281.
: Depression is the most common mental health problem in older adults and is closely associated with meaning in life. This study aimed to investigate the interconnections between depressive symptoms and meaning in life and their association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults using a network analysis. This cross-sectional study was performed between July and August 2021. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the EQ-5D-3L were used. Central and bridge symptoms were identified using strength and bridge strength. Furthermore, a flow network was employed to examine whether depressive symptoms and meaning in life were associated with HRQoL. : Overall, 213 community-dwelling older adults participated. "Sadness," "loneliness," and "depressed" were found to be the central symptoms in the depressive symptoms and meaning in life network. "Presence of meaning" and "inability to get going" each had the highest bridge strength values in the depressive symptoms and meaning in life network. Moreover, "inability to get going", "loneliness", and "everything was an effort" had the strongest relationships with HRQoL. : This study highlights the inter-relationships between depressive symptoms, meaning in life, and HRQoL. Interventions targeting the central and bridging symptoms are crucial for reducing depressive symptoms associated with a low sense of meaning in life among older adults. These findings offer insights to inform symptom-focused interventions aimed at reducing depressive symptoms (i.e., affective symptoms, loneliness, and motivational deficit) and at enhancing meaning in aging populations.
抑郁症是老年人中最常见的心理健康问题，且与生活意义密切相关。本研究旨在通过网络分析调查老年人抑郁症状与生活意义之间的相互联系及其与健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）的关联。这项横断面研究于2021年7月至8月进行。使用了10项流行病学研究中心抑郁量表简表（CES-D）、生活意义问卷和EQ-5D-3L。通过强度和桥接强度识别中心症状和桥接症状。此外，采用流网络来检验抑郁症状和生活意义是否与健康相关生活质量相关。总体而言，213名社区居住的老年人参与了研究。“悲伤”“孤独”和“沮丧”被发现是抑郁症状与生活意义网络中的中心症状。“有意义感”和“无法行动”在抑郁症状与生活意义网络中各自具有最高的桥接强度值。此外，“无法行动”“孤独”和“事事费力”与健康相关生活质量的关系最为密切。本研究强调了抑郁症状、生活意义和健康相关生活质量之间的相互关系。针对中心症状和桥接症状的干预措施对于减少老年人中与低生活意义感相关的抑郁症状至关重要。这些发现为以症状为重点的干预措施提供了见解，旨在减少抑郁症状（即情感症状、孤独和动机缺陷）并增强老年人群的生活意义。
