Depression and gender differences: focus on Taiwanese American older adults

• Published in: Journal of gerontological nursing Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 28 - 36
• Main Authors: Suen, Lee-jen W, Morris, Diana Lynn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SLACK INCORPORATED 01.04.2006
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Asian Americans - ethnology; Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - ethnology; Exercise; Female; Gender Identity; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Men - psychology; Middle Aged; New England - epidemiology; Nursing; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Sleep Wake Disorders - ethnology; Taiwan - ethnology; Women - psychology; New England; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0098-9134; 1938-243X
• DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20060401-06

Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data was used to examine gender differences and depression in elderly Taiwanese Americans. There is a paucity of health-related research focused on Asian Americans. This is especially true in the area of mental health. Depression, the most common psychiatric illness in older adults, is under-diagnosed in Asian Americans. A convenience sample of 100 elderly Taiwanese Americans, 47 women and 53 men, was used. Women were older, had higher depressions cores, more physical illness, poorer sleep scores, and less physical activity. Regression analysis indicated that 25% of the variance in depression scores was explained by sleep quality and physical activity.