Loneliness and depression among rural empty-nest elderly adults in Liuyang, China: a cross-sectional study

Wang, Guojun; Mi, Hu; Xiao, Shuiyuan; Zhou, Liang

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016091

Cited by 131 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…A survey conducted by The Sixth National Census in 2010 showed that 13.3% of the total population was aged 60 and above in China. It indicates that the aging process gradually speeds up, meanwhile, the number of empty nest families is increasing [1]. In 2014, the survey of National Committee on Ageing determined that empty nesters accounted for 51.1% of the elderly in China [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health promoting lifestyles and influencing factors among empty nesters and non-empty nesters in Taiyuan, China: a cross-sectional study

Zhang

Zhu

Lü

et al. 2018

Health Qual Life Outcomes

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BackgroundIn China, the problems of population aging and empty nesting have become important issues which will affect the social stability and economic development. The aim of this study was to explore the health promoting lifestyles and influencing factors among empty nesters and compare with non-empty nesters to find out their differences, so as to provide a scientific evidence for people to formulate health management strategies for elderly.MethodsA cross-sectional survey which used a stratified random cluster sampling method, was conducted among 500 elders in six districts of Taiyuan, China, there were 288 empty nesters and 212 non-empty nesters. The general information and health- promoting lifestyles were investigated by using the self-made General Information Questionnaire and Health Promoting Lifestyle Scale(HPLP). Two-sample t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the sociodemographic factors, HPLP scores of empty nesters to non-empty nesters; Multiple stepwise linear regression was performed to estimate influencing factors related to the HPLP of empty nesters and non-empty nesters.ResultsThe current findings showed that there were differences between the empty nesters and non-empty nesters in gender, resident, marital status, education and income, self-care ability, source of income, relationship with spouse and social activities (P < 0.05). Empty nesters were mostly male, married, had a higher education level, self-care ability and income and lived in urban compared with non-empty nesters. The health promoting lifestyles of the elderly in this survey were in the medium level, the highest score for all dimensions in both groups was in nutrition, whereas health responsibility was executed worst. The HPLP and six subscales scores of the empty nesters were higher than non-empty nesters, there were significant differences in total score of HPLP, self-realization and health responsibility (P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that the main predictive factors for the empty nesters were education, self-care ability and resident, whereas the main predictive factors for the non-empty nesters were parents-child relationship, source of income and age; social activity was the common factor for two group.ConclusionThe health promoting lifestyles of the empty nesters was better than that of the non-empty nesters. Health responsibility, interpersonal relations and stress management were key dimensions to be improved. Except social activity, education, self-care ability and resident were the unique influencing factors of health-promoting lifestyles for empty nesters, while the parents-child relationship, income and age were unique factors for non-empty nesters. The main target of Intervention strategy for elderly health promoting lifestyles should be the enhance of health responsibility, interpersonal relations and stress management by improving social activities, parent-child relationship, education and income of elderly.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health promoting lifestyles and influencing factors among empty nesters and non-empty nesters in Taiyuan, China: a cross-sectional study

Zhang

Zhu

Lü

et al. 2018

Health Qual Life Outcomes

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“…China's elderly people have made up a large proportion of the whole [19], and the study on mental health of older adults is necessary. As reported, empty-nest families account for almost 25% of elderly household in China, and would increase to 90%by 2030 [20].As a special group, mental health and its related factors are very important problems for the empty-nesters. So, at present, the empty-nesters' mental health problem is one of the primary problems affecting China's social development [3].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Comparison between Empty-nesters and Non-empty-nesters in Anhui, China: Subjective Well-being and Depression

2020

Preprint

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BACKGROUND: China is one of the countries facing the most serious population aging. Empty-nesters accounted half of the total old adults in China, improving mental health status of old people is necessary. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the subjective well-being and depression comprehensively between empty-nesters and non-empty-nesters in Anhui, China.METHODS: 1452 participants were surveyed by using the demographic characteristics questionnaire, the subjective well-being (SWB) single-choice facial expression questionnaire and the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30).RESULTS: Education level and depression were risk factors for both groups ( P <0.05), but age, marital status, living mode, and religious belief were main risk factors for empty-nesters ( P <0.05). Monthly individual income and SWB were risk factors for both groups( P <0.05), but living mode, religious belief and physical exercise were main risk factors for elderly empty-nesters, whereas economy situation was the main risk factor for non-empty-nesters( P <0.05).CONCLUTION: The influencing factors of two groups had similarities and differences. With the aging population of China, improving mental health status of old people was necessary. We should implement targeted interventions addressing mental health influencing factors of older adults.

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“…Older adults who are experiencing the situation of the empty nest suffer from loneliness, physical and mental decline, and less life satisfaction compared to those who have regular contact with their children. 16 Low social support, low socio-economic status, divorce and widowhood were found to be predictors of loneliness and decreased life satisfaction. 17,18 Depressive symptoms were associated with education level/employment status, negative coping style, low support utilization, and economic status.…”

Section: Definition History and Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 95%

Empty-nest-related psychosocial stress: Conceptual issues, future directions in economic crisis

Bougea¹,

Despoti²,

E³

2020

Psychiatriki

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Τ he empty-nest syndrome is a transitional stage, when middle-aged parents are in the process of encouraging their children to take up their obligations as adults. The empty-nest syndrome is a psychological condition that affects both parents, who experience feelings of grief, loss, fear, inability, difficulty in adjusting roles, and change of parental relationships, when children leave the parental home. Τhis syndrome has gained special interest in a world where the current economic crisis has not only deepened global poverty but also a crisis of values reflected in the dynamic model of the family. The purpose of this review was to appraise the impact of psychosocial stress of the empty-nest syndrome on the parents' well-being through the years, during the current socioeconomic crisis, taking into account gender, national and cultural background, socio-demographic and other context factors. We addressed the phenomenon of the "Boomerang Kids" and crowded nests as a result of current financial instability. Finally, we focused on the strategies which the family can employ to retain their resilience, according to the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping Family resilience framework and self-efficacy models. A literature review was conducted using web-based search engines provided by Medline, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane and PsychINFO. The term "empty nest syndrome'' was combined with women, men, economic crisis, parenthood, stress, menopause, midlife crisis, Boomerang kids, crowded nets, resilience, self-efficacy, wellbeing, and cultural differences. Women and men from diverse cultural groups have a different experience of the empty nest, as well as ways of coping. Distress caused by empty nest results in the incidence of symptoms of depression, behavioral symptoms and cognitive impairment. In most of studies, low marital quality and lack of social support affected negatively on a parent's well-being particularly for those experiencing the return of their "Boomerang kids". However, the financial crisis can transform an empty-nest into a "dynamic nest" by community health promotion services. Social support programs should be designed to strengthen family resource and improve family well-being.

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Loneliness and depression among rural empty-nest elderly adults in Liuyang, China: a cross-sectional study

Cited by 131 publications

References 28 publications

Health promoting lifestyles and influencing factors among empty nesters and non-empty nesters in Taiyuan, China: a cross-sectional study

Health promoting lifestyles and influencing factors among empty nesters and non-empty nesters in Taiyuan, China: a cross-sectional study

Comprehensive Comparison between Empty-nesters and Non-empty-nesters in Anhui, China: Subjective Well-being and Depression

Empty-nest-related psychosocial stress: Conceptual issues, future directions in economic crisis

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