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http://dx.doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.17.0060

The Association between Family Mealtime and Depression in Elderly Koreans  

Kang, Yunhwa (Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Kang, Soyeon (Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Kim, Kyung Jung (Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Ko, Hyunyoung (Health Screening Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Shin, Jinyoung (Department of Family Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine)
Song, Yun-Mi (Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Family Medicine / v.39, no.6, 2018 , pp. 340-346 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: Several studies have revealed the frequency of family mealtimes to be inversely associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents. However, there have been few studies in older populations. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between family mealtime frequency and depressive symptoms in elderly Koreans. Methods: This study analyzed 4,959 elderly men and women (aged 65 years or older) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess depressive status, family mealtime frequency, and covariates. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association using the eating alone group as a reference. Results: After adjusting for all covariates, participants who had family meals 3 times a day had fewer depressive symptoms than the eating alone group; adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 0.72 (0.58-0.89) for point depressiveness/anxiety and 0.73 (0.56-0.94) for depressiveness lasting for at least 2 weeks. In suicidal ideation, the OR (95% CI) of eating with family twice a day was significant after full adjusting for covariates at 0.67 (0.50-0.88). Conclusion: Family mealtimes were closely associated with depressive symptoms in elderly Koreans, which suggests that maintaining intrafamilial bonding is important for mental health in an older population.
Keywords
Aged; Depression; Family Relations; Meals; Koreans;
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