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Living arrangements, social networks and depressive symptoms among older men and women in Singapore
- Authors:
- CHAN Angelique, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(6), June 2011, pp.630-639.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The association of depressive symptoms with living arrangements and social networks outside the home was examined among older men and women. The aim of the study was to discover whether these relationships differ between older men and women, and to investigate whether the association, if it existed, varied by strength of social networks. Data for 4489 community-dwelling Singaporeans, aged 60 years and older, collected from a recent national survey, were analysed. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 11-item CES-D scale, social networks through Lubben's revised scale, and living arrangements by household composition. Analyses, stratified by gender, assessed the risk of depressive symptoms by living arrangements and social networks, adjusting for age, ethnic group, education, housing type, functional status, number of chronic diseases and involvement in social activities. Women had higher depressive symptom scores than men. Living alone and living with at least one child (no spouse), and weak social networks were associated with higher depressive symptom scores in both genders. Men living alone with weak social networks outside the household had higher depressive symptom scores than those with strong networks. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening non-familial social networks of older adults, particularly for those living alone.