The factors associated with geriatric depression in rural China: stratified by household structure

The prevalence of depressive symptoms is 24.1% among empty nest elderly in rural China, compared to 19.0% in non-empty nesters.

• Elderly individuals living alone have the highest odds ratio for experiencing depressive symptoms.
• Depressive symptoms in empty nest elderly are linked to sleep quality, economic status, pain, social support, and activities of daily living.
• In non-empty nesters, depressive symptoms are associated with gender, economic status, pain, and physical self-maintenance skills.
• Chronic diseases significantly correlate with depressive symptoms in elderly living alone.
• Positive correlations exist between subjective support, support utilization, and pain with depressive symptoms in elderly living with a spouse.
• Common factors affecting depressive symptoms in both groups include sleep quality, economic status, and activities of daily living.

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