ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Depressive symptoms associated with infection prevention measures and daily lifestyle habit characteristics among Japanese community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Masako Hamatani,
Ya Su,
Michiko Yuki,
Natsuka Ogawa,
Kayoko Kawahara,
Corresponding Author
Masako Hamatani
Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
Correspondence
Masako Hamatani, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashi-Oku, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorYa Su
Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Nursing, Shanghai, China
Search for more papers by this authorMichiko Yuki
Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorNatsuka Ogawa
Emergency and Critical Care Center, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorKayoko Kawahara
Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorMasako Hamatani,
Ya Su,
Michiko Yuki,
Natsuka Ogawa,
Kayoko Kawahara,
Corresponding Author
Masako Hamatani
Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
Correspondence
Masako Hamatani, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashi-Oku, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo 116-8551, Japan.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorYa Su
Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Nursing, Shanghai, China
Search for more papers by this authorMichiko Yuki
Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorNatsuka Ogawa
Emergency and Critical Care Center, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorKayoko Kawahara
Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 29 November 2023
Abstract
Aim
This study aimed to clarify the relationship between depressive symptoms and infection prevention measures and daily lifestyle habits during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among community-dwelling Japanese older adults.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted on older residents (age ≥65 years) living in the Tama area of Tokyo and Sapporo, Hokkaido, in 2021. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data on demographics, the impact of the pandemic on physical condition, and depressive symptoms, infection prevention measures, and daily lifestyle habits during the pandemic. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms.
Results
In total, 554 respondents were included in the analysis. The results of multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that refraining from going out and visiting medical institutions were associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, those who went out almost every day were less likely to have depressive symptoms than the others, those who exercised almost every day were less likely to have depressive symptoms than were those who almost never exercised, and those who slept 6–7 h were less likely to have depressive symptoms than were those who slept ≤5 h.
Conclusions
The findings of the present study suggest the necessity of having a place where older adults with physical and lifestyle concerns can consult with healthcare providers in a location other than a medical institution, even during infectious disease outbreaks. In addition, increasing the frequencies of going out and independent exercise and sleeping 6–7 h may help prevent depression among older adults.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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