Nursing research and practice
Factors Associated With Depressive Symptom Severity in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study
By Lee LY and Liao CL.
Abstract
Background
Depressive symptoms are common among older adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may be associated with both physical and psychological factors. However, the combined associations of comorbidity burden, sarcopenia risk, handgrip strength and diabetes distress with depressive symptom severity remain insufficiently examined.
Objective
To identify factors associated with depressive symptom scores among older adults with T2DM.
Methods
A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted in a diabetes outpatient clinic in central Taiwan. A total of 170 older adults with T2DM were recruited. Measures included the Charlson comorbidity index, the Sarcopenia Functional Questionnaire, handgrip strength testing, the Diabetes Distress Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with depressive symptom scores.