노화태도, 신체활동, 성별이 노년기 우울에 미치는 영향

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

As well as social isolation, frequent health issues and loss of loved ones contribute greatly to the vulnerability of elderly individuals to depression. Aging attitudes and physical activity are recognized as key cognitive and behavioral factors influencing depression in older adults. However, the accurate relationship with depression is difficult to ascertain due to demographic variables such as gender and the heterogeneity of physical activity types. This study aimed to verify the main effects and interaction effects of aging attitudes, physical activity, and gender on depression in a sample of 410 elderly individuals. It also examined the impact of different subtypes of physical activity(e.g., leisure, household, occupation) on depression. Even after controlling for average monthly income and subjective health, negative aging attitudes were the strongest predictor of depression. While the interaction effect between aging attitudes and physical activity was significant, the three-way interaction effect involving aging attitudes, physical activity, and gender was not significant. Furthermore, the results concerning different subtypes of physical activity were largely consistent. These findings suggest that maintaining positive aging attitudes is crucial for preventing depression in older adults. Both aging attitudes and physical activity may serve as protective factors against depression. Enhancing overall levels of physical activity across various domains rather than focusing on increasing activity levels in specific areas could be effective in preventing depression.