Premium
Quality of accommodation and risk of depression in later life: An analysis of prospective data from the Gospel Oak Project
Author(s) -
Stewart Robert,
Prince Martin,
Harwood Rowan,
Whitley Robert,
Mann Anthony
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.749
Subject(s) - accommodation , depression (economics) , confounding , demography , confidence interval , odds ratio , psychology , gerontology , medicine , pathology , neuroscience , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective To investigate the association between observer‐rated quality of internal accommodation and risk of onset of depression. Design A secondary analysis of data from a cross‐sectional survey of residents aged 65 or over in a north London electoral ward who were followed up after a one‐year interval. Method Pervasive depression (SHORT‐CARE) was assessed at both interviews. Quality of accommodation (on a five‐point scale) was assessed by a single interviewer in a random sample at baseline. Potential confounding factors which were considered included age, sex, social class, level of handicap, level of social support, baseline sub‐case depressive symptoms, cognitive function, income, accommodation tenure and area‐level housing quality. Results In participants without depression at baseline ( n =131), worse accommodation was associated with depression after one year (odds ratio (OR) between three accommodation groups 3.3, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.5–7.8). Adjustment for the potential confounding factors made little difference (adjusted OR 3.3). The association was principally in people cohabiting (OR 12.4) rather than living alone (OR 1.1). Conclusions An observer's impression of accommodation quality was a strong and independent predictor of depression in this sample. The stronger association in people who were cohabiting may reflect increased exposure to the internal environment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.