Medical Journal of Australia
Volume 192, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 158-162

Depressive symptoms in older male Italian immigrants in Australia: The concord health and ageing in men project (Article)

Stanaway F.F. , Cumming R.G. , Naganathan V. , Blyth F.M. , Creasey H.M. , Waite L.M. , Handelsman D.J. , Seibel M.J.
  • a School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • b School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • c Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • d Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • e Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • f Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • g ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • h ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in older male Italian-born Australian immigrants. Design, participants and setting: Cross-sectional study of 335 Italian-born and 849 Australian-born men aged 70 years and over who completed written questionnaires and were interviewed in the baseline phase of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP). Main outcome measures: Depressive symptoms assessed by the short (15-item) form of the Geriatric Depression Scale; associations between depressive symptoms and country of birth. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Italian-born men was 18%, almost twice the prevalence of 10% in Australian-born men (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0). After adjusting for socioeconomic and health factors, the relationship between country of birth and depressive symptoms was attenuated and no longer statistically significant (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.9-3.0). The strongest confounders of the relationship between country of birth and depressive symptoms were source of income and satisfaction with social support. Conclusion: Male Italian-born immigrants aged over 70 years report more depressive symptoms than their Australian-born counterparts. This association appears to be explained by increased reliance on a government pension as the sole source of income and lower satisfaction with social support among Italian-born men. However, these findings need to be confirmed longitudinally.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

birth immigrant depression Australia human clinical assessment Aged Depressive Disorder social support groups by age Geriatric Depression Scale Cross-Sectional Studies interview income cross-sectional study Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics questionnaire self concept patient satisfaction prevalence Article major clinical study Sex Factors Age Factors Italy disease association
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77952355885&partnerID=40&md5=8bc86b012ec5f5af52719bcde0ed27dd
ISSN: 0025729X
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English