Not so happy old age?
University of Bradford , November 13, 2015 -- The notion that older people are happier than
younger people is being challenged following a recent study led by a University of Bradford
In fact it suggests that people get more depressed from
age 65 onwards.
The study, led by psychology lecturer Dr Helena Chui and
recently published in the international journal Psychology and Aging,
builds on a 15-year project observing over 2,000 older Australians living in
the Adelaide
Previous studies have shown an increase in depressive
symptoms with age but only until the age of 85. This is the first study to
examine the issue beyond that age.
Both men and women taking part in the study reported
increasingly more depressive symptoms as they aged, with women initially
starting with more depressive symptoms than men. However, men showed a faster
rate of increase in symptoms so that the difference in the genders was reversed
at around the age of 80.
Key factors in these increases include levels of
physical impairment, the onset of medical conditions, particularly chronic
ones, and the approach of death. Half of those in the study suffered with
arthritis and both men and women with the chronic condition reported more
depressive symptoms than those without.
Dr Chui said: “These findings are very significant and
have implications for how we deal with old age. It’s the first study to tell us
depressive symptoms continue to increase throughout old age. We are in a period
of unprecedented success in terms of people living longer than ever and in
greater numbers and we should be celebrating this but it seems that we are
finding it hard to cope.
“It seems that we need to look carefully at the provision
of adequate services to match these needs, particularly in the area of mental
health support and pain management. Social policies and ageing-friendly support
structures, such as the provision of public transport and access to health care
services are needed to target the ‘oldest-old’ adults as a whole.”
The study is funded by the Australian Research
Council, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, and the Canada Research
Chairs Program. The research team included Denis Gestorf of Humboldt University ,
Christiane A. Hoppman of University of
British Columbia , and Mary A. Luszcz
of Flinders University
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