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Depression and related factors in older people in China: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2011

Yu Chen ,
Allan Hicks  and
Alison E. While
Yu Chen
Affiliation:
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, UK
Allan Hicks
Affiliation:
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, UK
Alison E. While*
Affiliation:
Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Alison While, 57 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8WA, UK. Email: [email protected]
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Summary

China has an increasing ageing population. Depression, as one of the most common problems in older people, is a concern that merits attention. This paper reviewed published studies of the prevalence of depression and its related factors in older people in China. Seventeen papers were identified by searching the following electronic databases: Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, China Academic Journal and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals. Whilst prevalence varied across studies, health status, social support, financial status, living arrangements and some demographic factors were consistently related to older people's depression. Further well-designed studies are needed to explore depression in older people in China to identify more culture-specific contributors to maximize well-being.

Keywords

older peopledepressionChina
Type
Neuropsychiatry of old age
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 52 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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