The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing depression among the elderly in the southern region of Gangwon Province. The study participants included 1,453 elderly individuals aged 65 and older residing in the southern region of G...
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing depression among the elderly in the southern region of Gangwon Province. The study participants included 1,453 elderly individuals aged 65 and older residing in the southern region of Gangwon Province, who took part in the 2021 Community Health Survey. Data were collected using the raw data from this survey. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS/WIN 22 program. The general characteristics of the study subjects, as well as their levels of stress and depression, were analyzed using frequency and percentage. Differences in depression according to general characteristics were analyzed using χ² tests and t-tests. The relationships between age, sleep duration, stress, and depression were assessed using Pearson correlation analysis, and the factors influencing depression were analyzed using logistic regression. The results showed that depression increased with age (B= .03, p< .05), increased with longer sleep duration (B= .19, p< .01), and significantly increased with higher stress levels (B= .98, p< .01). Factors such as gender, age, education level, average monthly household income, sleep, marital status, stress, unmet medical needs, participation in neighborhood events, neighborhood public transportation, and local medical services were found to influence depression. Additionally, there were significant positive correlations between depression and sleep (r= .22, p< .01), age (r= .16, p< .01), and stress (r= .45, p< .01). Age, sleep, and stress were identified as significant factors influencing depression. Therefore, it is necessary to develop strategies to manage sleep and stress in order to reduce depression among the elderly in the southern region of Gangwon Province.