Gender, physical limitation and depression among elderly Chinese

Abstract

Research on depression among the elderly generally considers gender as a predicting factor in depression. At the same time, physical limitation often affects the social lives of the elderly, exposing them to a higher risk of depression. Nevertheless, little research has been done to examine the relationship between gender, physical limitation, and depression in the elderly population. This is particularly the case for the elderly from different ethnic minority backgrounds. The research question for this study is: What are the impacts of gender and physical limitation on depression in elderly Chinese-Canadians? Based upon the findings from an earlier study, this paper aims at further examining the effects of gender and physical limitation on depression among a random sample (N=96) of elderly Chinese in a Canadian city. Results revealed that there were significant differences in depression levels between elderly Chinese men and women (10.0% versus 28.6%). However, using hierarchical, logistic multiple regression analyses, the results showed that the impact of gender on depression disappeared when other variables were controlled. On the other hand, physical limitation was the most significant predictor of depression for elderly Chinese participants. These findings speak to the importance of organizing and implementing programs and activities that could mitigate the negative consequences of physical limitation and mobility problems faced by the elderly Chinese.