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Age and Depression in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadians: A Preliminary Look at the National Population Health Survey

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Abstract

There are considerable inconsistencies in the literature concerning the relationship between age and depression. Recently, however, two independent studies in the, U.S. have shown that the distribution is U-shaped with the lowest reported levels of depression at ages 45–49. Three reasons for past inconsistencies are identified and addressed using the 1994 National Population Health Survey by Statistics Canada. Using both a distress scale and a diagnostic measure, a substantially different relationship was found. The prevalence of distress decreased steadily with age until about 65, with only a slight increase afterwards for both males and females. After the introduction of several sociodemographic covariates, however, this relationship was clearly negative. These findings are discussed in terms of future research questions.

Résumé

Il existe des incohérences considérables dans la littérature au sujet de la relation entre l’âge et la dépression. Récemment, toutefois, deux études indépendantes aux É.-U. ont montré que la distribution est de type parabolique et que les taux les plus faibles de dépression se situent entre 45 et 49 ans. Trois raisons expliquant les incohérences passées ont été identifiées et prises en compte à l’aide de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population de 1994 de Statistique Canada. En recourant à une échelle de mesure de la détresse et à une mesure diagnostique, on a fait apparaître une relation substantiellement différente. La prévalence de la détresse décroissait régulièrement avec l’âge jusqu’à 65 ans environ, avec seulement une légère remontée après tant pour les hommes que pour les femmes. Toutefois, après introduction de plusieurs covariables socio-démographiques, cette relation est apparue clairement négative. Les résultats sont discutés du point de vue des futurs travaux de recherche à entreprendre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Calgary World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research & Training in Mental Health, The Calgary Regional Health Authority and the Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences, The University of Calgary, Canada

    Terrance J. Wade PhD

  2. Centre for Health and Well-Being, Department of Sociology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada

    John Cairney MA

Authors
  1. Terrance J. Wade PhD
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  2. John Cairney MA
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Additional information

Support provided to Terrance J. Wade by a Fellowship from the Ontario Ministry of Health, Health Research Personnel Development Program, and to John Cairney by a Fellowship from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Financial assistance was also provided by the Centre for Health and Well-Being.

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Wade, T.J., Cairney, J. Age and Depression in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadians: A Preliminary Look at the National Population Health Survey. Can J Public Health 88, 297–302 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403892

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403892

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