Abstract |
Background: Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the third and fourth age, which is expected to emerge as the second most frequent disease worldwide by 2020. It is associated with reduced well-being and physical function and increased mortality and use of health services. On the other hand, prayer is the most recognized religious practice worldwide. The international literature supports the use of prayer as a spiritual form of therapy and coping strategy. Additionally, the importance of social support in maintaining prosperity, preventing emotional disorders, as well as facilitating recovery, and promoting physical health is highlighted in many studies.
Aim: To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptomatology (DS) in people aged 50 and over in Greece and to investigate the association of increased DS with religiosity (frequency of prayer) and social support (receiving and providing care).
Methodology: The data were drawn from the longitudinal Study of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE 2004, wave 1, release 2.5.0). The Greek sample consisted of 1823 people aged 50 + years. The research tools used were the CAPI questionnaire and the drop-off, a self-administered questionnaire.
Results: The DS was found to be significantly related to gender, educational level, number of health symptoms in the last six months and self-rated health (p <0,001). Women and older people have higher rates of increased DS, frequency of prayer and receiving care but the frequency of providing care appears higher in middle age (p <0,001). Individuals with increased DS appeared to pray and receive care at a higher frequency than those with fewer symptoms of depression and simultaneously exhibit
Public Health & Health Care Management
Faculty of Medicine – University of Crete
4
impaired physical health (p <0,001). Males with increased DS (Euro-D ≥ 4) are 2.14 times more likely to receive care compared with men with a Euro-D score ≤ 3 (Odds ratio (OR): 2.14; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.14 – 4.05, p = 0.019).
Conclusions: The interaction of DS, religiosity, social support and physical health shows the multiple dimensions that must be taken into consideration when designing health promotion policies in order to achieve healthy aging.
|