AbstractsSociology

General health condition, living arrangements, and socioeconomic status as contributing factors of depression among the elderly population

by Carmen Avalos




Institution: California State University, Los Angeles
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Mental health; Gerontology; Social work; Ethnic studies; Gender studies
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2063947
Full text PDF: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10141090


Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between general health condition, living arrangements, socioeconomic status, and depression among elderly adults. The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011-2012 dataset was utilized in order to conduct the secondary analysis of variables for this study. This study found that there is a significant relationship between general health condition, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender, and depression among the sample of elderly adult participants. The results from this study found that elderly participants who reported a poor general health condition (self-rated health) had higher levels of depression, and elderly adults who reported an excellent general health condition had lower levels of depression. A low socioeconomic status was correlated to higher levels of depression among elderly adults. This study also found that elderly minorities have higher levels of depression when compared to their counterparts. Female elderly adults were found to have higher levels of depression than males in this study. The results of this study serve to raise awareness and contribute knowledge of significant contributing factors correlated to depression among the elderly population.