New research has revealed the best way to improve your mental wellbeing in later life – and it’s surprisingly wholesome.
Researchers at Columbia University, US, have found that one of the biggest factors in reducing the risk of depression in retirees is volunteering. In fact, those who gave their time to helping a cause were 43 per cent less likely to develop the condition.
The researchers point out that volunteering provides social interaction, and a sense of purpose, both of which contribute to improved life satisfaction.
The study has been published amid a major global shift toward an ageing population. The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.4 billion individuals – 17 per cent of the world population – are now aged 60 and above.
Depression is a serious health concern for this age group – people who are depressed are far more likely to develop other chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and higher blood pressure, which can all result in premature mortality.
In the US, the predicted rate of depression among people aged 65 and over is estimated to be 18.4 per cent. This latest research found that higher rates of depression were found in the 65–69 age group, while significantly lower rates were seen in the 70–74 group.
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Senior author and principal investigator of the study, Dr Guohua Li, attributes this to the drastic adjustment period surrounding the average US retirement age. “The 65–69 age group often faces significant life changes which can contribute to depressive symptoms.”
“This finding aligns with other reports indicating that ages 65 and older are often accompanied by factors such as increased physical health issues… and the loss of social networks, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation and depressive symptoms. Alternately, those engaged in volunteering activities had a significantly lower prevalence of depression.”
In addition to volunteering’s effect on reducing the odds of depression, the study also highlights marriage as an important factor in keeping depression at bay. “It is well known that social relationships in general and marriage in particular can provide social support and buffer against mental health problems,” notes Li.
Another key contributor to the development of depression was a person’s mental health history – perhaps unsurprisingly, those who did not have a history of depression were less likely to be depressed.
The odds were also in the favour of those with more wealth. Those who had annual household incomes of over $50,000 (almost £40,000) were at reduce risk of experiencing the condition.
The study utilised data from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers (LongROAD) and looked at almost 3,000 participants living in five communities across the US. However, it’s worth pointing out that the participants weren’t particularly diverse – only seven per cent were women, and just 11 per cent had household incomes of less than $50,000 per year.
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