Chronic health conditions and functional disability were key predictors for depression in older women. Credit: S. Priyadarshini
One in five post-menopausal women in India over 50 has clinical depression1. Researchers emphasize the need for policy to focus on community screening and strengthening primary care mental health services for older citizens.
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India and Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi found a 21.76% prevalence of depression among women aged 50 years and older, significantly higher than the 17.60% rate in women under 50.
They used data from 28,160 women aged 50 and beyond, sourced from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India Wave 1.
Multiple chronic health conditions and functional disability – measured by personal care skills – were key predictors for depression in older women. In addition, being single and living in a rural area are all factors associated with an increased likelihood of depression. Conversely, better education is linked to a lower chance.
“This problem is further accentuated by declining fertility, smaller family sizes, and children living away from parents,” says co-author Saurav Basu.
