Aki Kuroda|T. Tanaka|Hirohiko Hirano|Yuki Ohara|Takeshi Kikutani|Hiroyasu Furuya|Shuichi Obuchi|Hisashi Kawai|Shinya Ishii|Masahiro Akishita|Taishi Tsuji|Katsuya Iijima
Eating Alone as Social Disengagement is Strongly Associated With Depressive Symptoms in Japanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|The University of Tokyo|Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|The University of Tokyo|Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|Tokyo Medical and Dental University|Nippon Dental University|Nippon Dental University|Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|The University of Tokyo|The University of Tokyo|Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|The University of Tokyo|Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology|The University of Tokyo
h2abstracth2h3objectivesh3 depression later life poses grave challenge aging countries reported key risk factors include social disengagement lack social companionship mealtimes namely eating alone examined extensively especially relation living arrangement past studies changes along geriatric trajectories association social engagement depression also remain inadequate study aims examine association social engagement depressive symptoms particular focus eating alone association changes along aging mental frailty trajectories h3designh3 crosssectional study h3settingh3 kashiwacity chibaprefecture japan h3participantsh3 total 1856 communitydwelling older adults h3measurementsh3 15item geriatric depression scale used measure depressive symptoms indicators used assess social engagement included eating alone living arrangement reciprocity social support social participation social stressors social ties h3resultsh3 social engagement significantly associated depressive symptoms live families yet eat alone found particular risk odds ratio 502 95 confidence interval 2599 youngold odds ratio 241 95 confidence interval 1248 oldold younger less mentally frail populations showed stronger associations h3conclusionsh3 eating alone key risk factor depressive symptoms communitydwelling older adults living arrangement eat alone important identifying greatest risk mental health management older adults requires comprehensive assessment social relations takes account companionship mealtimes social preventive measures need involve early interventions order augment effectiveness mental frailty