[Depressive symptoms in elderly women. The influence of gender]

Abstract

Objective: To examine gender differences in depressive symptoms in people over 75 years of age in the community.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The data was obtained from the study of frailty in Lleida (FRALLE survey). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Logistic regression were used to analyse the relationship of gender with depressive symptoms.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 33.1%; 22.8% for men and 40.3% for women. In the total population, gender was statistically significant in all three models constructed. Thus, women have nearly double the prevalence rates for depression compared to men, even after adjusting for social and demographic factors and the health status.

Conclusions: The results suggest that women have a higher risk of depressive symptoms than men, and the protective factors of depressive symptoms are higher education in women, and the presence of a partner in men.