Title | Urban and Rural Differences in Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Later Life in the United States. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Sun, N, Hua, CL, Qiu, X, J Brown, S |
Journal | Journal of Applied Gerontology |
Volume | 41 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 148-157 |
ISSN Number | 1552-4523 |
Keywords | age-based growth curve, Depressive symptoms, geographic differences, later life, rurality |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: This research has two primary goals: to examine the relationship between urban residence and trajectories of depressive symptoms and to investigate whether this relationship differs by social isolation and loneliness. METHOD: Data are from 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 51+ ( = 3,346 females and 2,441 males). We conduct latent growth curve analysis to predict both baseline and trajectories of depression based on urban or rural residency. RESULTS: Residing in urban or rural areas is neither significantly associated with baseline nor the development of late-life depressive symptoms. For females, the relationship between urban residence and baseline depressive symptoms is explained by socioeconomic factors. DISCUSSION: Findings of this study serve to better understand how social and geographic contexts shape long-term well-being of older adults. |
DOI | 10.1177/0733464820972527 |
Citation Key | 11249 |
PubMed ID | 33234026 |