Korean Journal of Family Medicine (가정의학회지)

The Korean Academy of Family Medicine (대한가정의학회)
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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)
  • Received : 2017.05.11
  • Accepted : 2017.08.10
  • Published : 2018.11.20
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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

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)

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