Kontakt 2024, 26(3):218-225 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2024.039

Anxiety and depression in Moravian-Silesian older adults: prevalence and associated factorsNursing - Original article

Radka Kozáková1, *, Radka Bužgová1, Katka Bobčíková1, Petr Dostálek2, Petr Šilhán2
1 University of Ostrava, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Ostrava, Czech Republic
2 University of Ostrava, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Ostrava, Czech Republic

Objectives: The main objective was to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in older adults living in the Moravian-Silesian region.

Methods: Empirical data was collected using a set of questionnaires and a personal data form. These tools were the Geriatric Scale of Depression, the Inventory of Geriatric Anxiety, the OPQoL-brief questionnaire, the Rosenberger Self-Esteem Scale, and the Social Support Questionnaire. A total of 935 older adults participated in the research.

Results: Depression symptoms were found in 17.2% of older adults and anxiety symptoms in 22.8%. A correlation was shown between a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety and between the number of diseases and low social support. A higher prevalence of depression was also associated with older age (r = 0.162, p = 0.039). Older adults with depression and anxiety also showed a lower quality of life (r = -0.529, p < 0.001; r = -0.362, p < 0.001), lower self-assessment (r = -0.464, p < 0.001; r = -0.429, p < 0.001), and little social support (r = -0.260, p < 0.001; r = -0.211, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Depression and anxiety in older people is underdiagnosed and treated in primary care settings, although it significantly affects morbidity and quality of life in affected persons.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Older people; Quality of life; Self-esteem; Social support
Grants and funding:

The study was supported by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (grant AZV MZCR grant no. NU21-09-00067). The funding parties played no role in any part of the study design, data collection, analysis, or writing of this paper.

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: December 6, 2023; Revised: April 2, 2024; Accepted: June 25, 2024; Prepublished online: July 26, 2024; Published: September 24, 2024  Show citation

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Kozáková R, Bužgová R, Bobčíková K, Dostálek P, Šilhán P. Anxiety and depression in Moravian-Silesian older adults: prevalence and associated factors. Kontakt. 2024;26(3):218-225. doi: 10.32725/kont.2024.039.
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