Background: With the aging population, depressive symptoms and impaired Activities of Daily Living have increased medical costs and mortality, generating severe public health issues. This study reconsiders the potential classification of depressive symptoms and ADL impairment in older adults and identifies various factors that may affect classifications.
Methods: This study focused on 6270 Chinese adults aged 65 years or older. We used latent profile analysis to explore depressive symptoms and ADL impairment (basic ADLs and instrumental ADLs) in various subgroups of older adults. We used Chi-square analysis and multivariate logistic regression to examine the determinants of depressive symptoms and ADL impairment among subgroups.
Results: The study's results classified older adults into three subgroups: those with high level depressive symptoms and BADLs and IADLs impairment, those with moderate level depressive symptoms and IADLs impairment, and those with no to low level depressive symptoms and without BADLs and IADLs impairment. Illiterate, having fallen in the past year, as well as having hearing difficulties all predicted high level depressive symptoms and severe BADLs and IADLs impairment. In contrast, regular exercise, contact with friends, playing cards/mahjong, participating in organized social activities, and visiting siblings predicted moderate level depressive symptoms and IADLs impairment.
Conclusion: This paper discusses what is known about the various subgroups as well as the treatment of depressive symptoms and ADL impairment in older populations. It also gives policy and practice recommendations for the future that may help rehabilitate and maintain the mental health and ADLs independence of older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).