Heterogeneous Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in the Aging Process: A Sequence Analysis within Nine-Year Follow-Ups of Chinese Cohorts

Yaoyue Li, Shandong University

This study aims to investigate heterogeneous trajectories of depressive symptoms among people transitioning to older courses and examine demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with the cluster of the trajectory. Using a sample of individuals aged 50-69 years at baseline, who were repeatedly observed five times between 2011­ and 2020 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the study defines three states of depressive symptoms and employs sequence analysis to depict and cluster the nine-year trajectory of depressive symptoms; multinomial logistic regression is conducted to identify factors associated with a category. 41.8% of individuals have a mentally healthy trajectory with no depressive symptoms over the study period; however, seven additional clusters of trajectories are identified, characterizing emerging, deteriorating, mitigating, and stable symptoms among respondents who ever reported evident symptoms at any wave during the period. Better socioeconomic conditions lower the risk of depression, and age is not necessarily linked to its presence; however, age-related events, such as the loss of a spouse, reduced social connections, and worsening physical health, are significantly related to depression in the aging process. Improving socioeconomic conditions, encouraging socioeconomic participation, and promoting physical health matter for mental health in the aging population.

Keywords: Health and Morbidity, Population Ageing, Longitudinal studies , Data visualisation

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