Healthy, moderate, or distressed: identification of latent profiles of mental health of a Chilean older primary care user sample.

Background: In older adults, medium and high levels of life satisfaction can coexist with mental health symptoms. The combination of these variables continues to be a challenge for public mental health; even more so for middle-income countries where evidence is scarce. This study aimed to identify latent mental health profiles in a sample of older adults attending primary healthcare centres (PHC) in the Province of Concepción, Chile.

Methods: A convenience sample of individuals aged 65 and older who sought care in 15 PHC centres was recruited. Perception of well-being and the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms, all of these in relation to variables such as age, sex, cohabitation, health history, alcohol use, social participation, social support, loneliness, stressful events, presence of previous major depressive episodes, and generalized anxiety disorders. The relationship between the variables was analysed using a latent profile model.

Results: A total of 573 interviews were conducted, with 7.85% having a psychiatric diagnosis in the last year. Four latent profiles were identified: healthy (15%); moderate mental health with lower anxiety (22%), moderate mental health with higher anxiety (34%), and distressed (29%). The multinomial regression model for predictor variables significantly predicted the class for each subject. Key predictors include loneliness, stressful events, satisfaction with health status, and sex.

Conclusions: The combined assessment of mental distress variables (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and well-being forms a gradient ranging from positive (healthy) and negative (distressed) mental health, with anxiety playing a crucial role in its differentiation.