Gender differences in the relationship of lifestyle and depressive symptoms among Taiwanese older people

Background: Aging is a major risk for health issues, and it may relate to chronic illness, physical function degradation, and mental dysfunction. One of the critical health concerns is depressive disorders. However, very few studies examining depression among older people have focused on the combinations of different lifestyle factors. Objectives: To examine the association between lifestyles and depressive symptoms in gender differences among older people in Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional study and interviews were conducted to collect information. The participants were selected by using a probability proportional to size procedure. The participants (n=1020) were community-dwelling adults who were aged 65 and older living in northern Taiwan. The list of items such as demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and depressive symptoms originated from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) were applied for the interview in this study. This study used chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression to analysis the data. Results: Men who exercised regularly and consumed enough vegetables had low depressive symptoms scores; women who exercised regularly had low depressive symptoms scores. Conclusion: Regular exercise and eating enough vegetables are important factors associated with depressive symptoms for men; regular exercise is an important factor associated with depressive symptoms for women. The study suggests that senior citizens need to be encouraged to exercise regularly and get enough vegetable consumption to promote good mental health. (C) 2015 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.