ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EDUCATION LEVEL AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN ICELAND

• Published in: Innovation in Aging
• Main Authors: Gudjonsson, Milan Chang, Nishizuka, Chiharu, Sigurdardottir, Sigurveig
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2022
• Subjects: Life-span and Life-course Studies; Health Professions (miscellaneous); Health (social science); Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.1969; https://academic.oup.com/innovateage/article-pdf/6/Supplement_1/515/48309230/igac059.1969.pdf

Abstract Objectives. Previous research studies have suggested that a higher education level has a positive impact on one's health throughout life. The aim of this study was to examine the association between education level and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older in Iceland. Method. This is a cross-sectional study using data from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study (AGES–RS) cohort (n = 3,989, mean age = 76.2, 56.3% women). Education was classified into four levels: primary (n = 895), secondary (n = 1,980), college (n = 630), and university (n = 484). For the analysis, education was categorized into two groups: primary education versus higher than primary education (secondary, college, and university). Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. High depressive symptoms (HDEPS) were defined if the GDS score was 6 or higher. Results. Education was highly significantly associated with the 15-GDS score (p < .001). Compared to people with primary education, those with higher than primary education level were significantly less likely to have HDEPS after adjusting for confounders including age, gender, body mass index, physical activity, coronary diseases, and smoking status. Discussion. Older adults with higher than primary education were less likely to have HDEPS compared to those with primary education in the current cross-sectional analysis. The findings indicate that level of education is highly associated with depressive symptoms of community-dwelling older adults in Iceland.