Article
THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON THE PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND ITS COVARIATES IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION WITH SLIGHT INCOME DIFFERENCES: THE BAMBUI HEALTH AND AGING STUDY (BHAS)
Registro en:
CARVALHAIS, Sandra Maria Melo et al. The influence of socio-economic conditions on the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its covariates in an elderly population with slight income differences: the Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS). Int J Soc Psychiatry, v. 54, n. 5, p. 447-456, 2008. doi: 10.1177/0020764008090792.
0020-7640
10.1177/0020764008090792
Autor
Carvalhais, Sandra Maria Melo
Costa, Maria Fernanda Furtado de Lima
Peixoto, Sérgio William Viana
Firmo, Josélia Oliveira Araújo
Costa, Érico de Castro e
Demicheli, Maria Elizabeth Uchôa de Oliveira
Resumen
FINANCIADORA DE ESTUDOS E PROJETOS - FINEP Background: The influence of socio-economic conditions on covariates of depression has received little attention. Aims: Examine whether prevalence and covariates of depressive symptoms are affected by socio-economic circumstances. Methods: Participants were 1,499 (86%) residents in Bambui city, Brazil, aged ->- 60 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the GHQ-12 questionnaire and exploratory variables included demographic characteristics, life events, social support, health conditions and health service use. The analysis was stratified by family income (< US$240.00 [lowest tertile] vs. ->- US$240.00). Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in those with lower income (43.9%) in comparison with the better off (27.7%). Dissatisfaction with relationships, worse self-rated health and insomnia were independently associated with depressive symptoms in both income groups (OR from 2.00 to 4.74; p < 0.05). Depressive symptoms were associated with number of chronic diseases, functional disability and hospitalizations among the poorer (OR from 1.73 to 2.37; p < 0.05), while old age (OR 2.08) and female gender (OR 2.03) were associated with depressive symptoms among the better off. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their covariates are influenced by socio-economic conditions in a population with slight income differences