The implications of social relationships for depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults: Results from the Korea Community Health Survey

Background Epidemiological findings have established a strong link between social relationships and mental health in older populations. However, a comprehensive exploration within diverse social contexts is warranted. This study aimed to identify the connections between social relationship and depressive symptoms among older adults in South Korea. Methods The 2017 and 2019 Korea Community Health Surveys were used to analyze 85,861 adults aged 65 years and older. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A single question was used to measure gloom. Social contact, social activity, and perception of neighborhood served as variables related to social relationships. Associations were analyzed using hierarchical logistic regression. Results Among the participants, 5,632 (6.5%) experienced gloom and 3,770 (4.3%) had depressive symptoms. In the multivariate analyses, older adults with good social contact, social activity, and perception of neighborhood were less likely to be depressive. Additionally, participants were less likely to be depressed if they had a higher income, worked, slept longer hours, had higher education, consumed alcohol, and were physically active. Good social contact was robustly associated with fewer depressive symptoms in the lowest income subgroup. Discussion This study showed a close link between social relationships and depressive symptoms in older adults, highlighting the significance of social contact in low-income groups. A social context-based approach should be considered to prevent depression in older adults.