Older rural people in Australia suffer depression

Nearly one third of older rural people in Australia and America suffer from depression according to a study in the Australian Journal of Rural Health.

’Prevalence and Predicators of Depressive Symptoms among Rural Older Australians and Americans’ examines and compares the factors causing depression among married people from the two continents, and seeks to extend the knowledge about the prevalence and predictors of rural late-life depressive symptoms.

The key determinant for depression symptoms in Australians was pain. The dissatisfaction in social support predicted depressive symptoms for American women, while American men had no single variable predicting depression.

Results of the study also demonstrate that although having similar levels of depression, depressive symptoms differed between genders and nationality. While the men of the two countries have similar rates of depressive symptoms of about 40%, twice as many Australian women report having depression compared to American women.

“With nearly one in every three older rural people describing themselves as feeling depressed, it is essential to develop culturally appropriate and socially acceptable interventions and support programs for rural communities,” says Dr Miller.

This paper is published in the February 2008 issue of Australian Journal of Rural Health. The abstract is available free online at www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2007.00948.x