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The impact of offspring marital status on depressive symptoms of parents: findings from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 December 2016

Woorim Kim ,
Eun-Cheol Park ,
Kyu-Tae Han ,
Tae-Hoon Lee  and
Tae Hyun Kim
Woorim Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
Eun-Cheol Park
Affiliation:
Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Kyu-Tae Han
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
Tae-Hoon Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
Tae Hyun Kim*
Affiliation:
Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea Graduate School of Public Heath, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Tae Hyun Kim, PhD, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea. Phone: +82-2-2228-1521; Fax: +82-2-392-8133. Email: THKIM@yuhs.ac.
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Abstract

Background:

Noticeable demographic changes have taken place in South Korea, with the general marriage rate decreasing and the average first age at marriage and general divorce rate increasing. The shown trends have contributed to intergenerational discordance in the perception of familial values, which is important in addressing the psychological well-being of parents. This study aimed to investigate the association between the marital status of offspring aged 40 years and over and the depression levels of parents.

Methods:

Data were from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), 2006–2012. A total of 2,540 individuals with at least two offspring aged 40 years and over were included. Association between offspring marital status and parental depression scores, measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies and Depression (CES-D 10) scale, was investigated using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model. Subgroup analysis was performed based on offspring education level.

Results:

When parents with only married offspring were set as reference, parents with never married offspring (β: 0.27, p = 0.02), parents with separated offspring (β: 0.52, p = 0.03), and parents with never married offspring and separated offspring (β: 0.38, p < 0.001) showed increases in depression scores. In the subgroup analysis, these higher depression score effects were largely limited to parents with high school graduate offspring.

Conclusion:

It is important to monitor the mental health status of parents with never married, separated, or both never married and separated offspring as this group may be comparatively vulnerable to depressive symptoms.

Keywords

non-married offspringseparated offspringparental depressive symptomsolder aged offspringEast Asian demographic changes
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , March 2017 , pp. 399 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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