Analysis of Depression and Its Influencing Factors in Disabled Older Adults in China: A Cross‐Sectional Study Based on CHARLS Data

OBJECTIVES: To understand the incidence rate of depression in disabled older adults and its influential factors in China. BACKGROUND: The increasing number of older adults with depression poses a severe public health challenge. Understanding the mental health status of disabled older adults and exploring their influencing factors as comprehensively as possible holds significant practical importance. METHODS: This study was based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2020 and collected basic characteristics and information on the depression status of older adults Chinese disabled older adults aged 60 and above. Influencing factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 2358 disabled older adults, 1504 (63.78%) had depressive symptoms, and 854 (36.22%) had no depressive symptoms. The results of binomial Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, place of residence, education and disability degree, life satisfaction, and self-rated health level were the factors affecting the occurrence of depression in disabled older adults (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that depression among disabled older adults in China is influenced by multiple interconnected factors. Greater attention should therefore be directed toward the mental health of this population, and targeted measures should be implemented to improve depressive conditions among disabled older adults.