Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain, and Quality of Life Among Older Adults in Rural China: An Observational, Cross-Sectional, Multi-Center Study

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the incidence of anxiety and depression and examine their cross-sectional associations with chronic pain and quality of life among older adults in rural China. Design Observational, multi-center, cross-sectional study. Methods A structured, self-report questionnaire was administered. Descriptive statistics analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Findings 244 participants (female: 47.1%) filled out the questionnaires. 87 (35.7%) had symptoms of anxiety and 123 (50.4%) had symptoms of depression. The sensory pain descriptor, affective pain descriptor, physical component summary, and mental component summary significantly influenced symptoms of anxiety while affective pain descriptor, physical component summary, and mental component summary significantly influenced symptoms of depression. Conclusion Subjective pain experiences and QoL, including physical and mental domains, are strongly related to symptoms of anxiety and depression among older adults in rural China. Clinical Evidence Interventions that highlight subjective pain experiences and QoL may help to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults.