Gender Differences in the Impact of Intergenerational Support on Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in Korea.
Background: This study examined the relationship between intergenerational support patterns and depressive symptoms among older men and women in Korea. Methods: A nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized, community-dwelling older adults in Korea was used. A total of 7531 older adults (3592 men and 3939 women) was included in the analysis. Results: We observed gender differences in the impact of financial support exchanges on depressive symptoms. A lack of mutual financial support significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms by 3.83 times (95% CI 2.34-6.24) in men and 1.73 times (95% CI 1.06-2.83) in women. Men who received financial support were more likely to experience depressive symptoms (OR (Odds Ratio), 1.81, 95% CI 1.36-2.42), whereas women who provided financial support were more likely to experience depressive symptoms (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.21-6.56). The lack of an exchange of emotional support was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in both men (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.17-1.90) and women (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.50-2.34). Conclusions: We discuss the evidence of gender differences in intergenerational support exchange patterns and their impact on depressive symptoms within the context of Korean cultures and suggest that future research should be conducted on gender differences in the impact of intergenerational support on mental health across diverse societies.
['Choi|Kyungwon|K|', 'Jeon|Gyeong-Suk|GS|0000-0001-8574-7936', 'Jang|Kwang-Sim|KS|0000-0001-9696-2842']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003863:Depression D005260:Female D006801:Humans D016901:Intergenerational Relations D008297:Male D016017:Odds Ratio D056910:Republic of Korea D012737:Sex Factors D012944:Social Support D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
gender depression older adults intergenerational relations social support