Restricted economic activity due to health conditions and risk of depression: results from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between the restricted economic activity due to health conditions and risk of depression, and further evaluate the differences in this association according to gender and across the older people.

Methods: Data from the KLoSA from 2006 to 2016 was used and 10,144 research samples were included at baseline at 2006. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was applied in this longitudinal analysis.

Results: Of the 10,144 individuals at baseline 2006, the odds ratio (OR) of depressive symptoms in those responding "very probable" on restricted economic activity was 2.88 times higher (p-value: <0.0001) compared with "not at all" respondents of restricted economic activity. In 64 years or less and 65 years or more, OR of depressive symptoms in "very probable" respondents of restricted economic activity was 3.03 times higher (p-value: <0.0001) and 2.85 times higher (p-value: <0.0001) compared with "not at all" respondents of restricted economic activity, respectively. In male and female, OR of depressive symptoms in "very probable" respondents of restricted economic activity was 1.76 times higher (p-value: <0.0001) and 1.56 times higher (p-value: <0.0001) compared with "not at all" respondents of restricted economic activity, respectively.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that restricted economic activity due to adverse health conditions was associated with risk of depression, especially among men between the ages of 45 ~ 64. These results suggest that in order to improve mental health in the middle-aged people, public health interventions are needed to sustain economic activity.