[Association between migrant status and depressive symptoms in the older population in Germany]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between migrant status and depressive symptoms among the older population in Germany.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study with the German subsample of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a population-based sample of 2890 German residents aged 50 years or older (mean age 65 years, 55 % women), the association between migrant status (defined as being born outside of, and having immigrated to Germany) and depressive symptoms (≥ 4 points on the EURO-D scale) was examined by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 539 respondents (19 %) were migrants. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in migrants (28 %) than in non-migrants (19 %, p < 0.001). Migrant status remained associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio 1.50, 95 % confidence interval 1.11-2.01) in logistic regression analysis adjusting for sociodemographic factors, indicators of physical health, and cognitive function.

Conclusions: The results suggest an association between migrant status and depressive symptoms in the older population in Germany that was independent of other predictors of late-life depression included in this analysis.