Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Persons Aged 45 Years and Older in Indonesia in 2023: Overall and Sex‐Specific Analyses

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rapid population ageing in Indonesia has heightened the importance of understanding late-life depressive symptoms. However, recent nationally representative evidence remains limited, warranting updated estimates of prevalence and associated factors to inform public health policy and practice. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and identify associated factors among persons aged 45 years and older in Indonesia, overall and stratified by sex. METHODS: This study analysed data from 3808 adults aged 45 years and older who participated in the 2023 Indonesia Longitudinal Ageing Survey (ILAS), a national cross-sectional survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). A total CES-D-10 score of ≥ 10 indicated depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression examined factors associated with depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 9.3%, 9.0% in men and 9.6% in women. In the final adjusted models, overall, having been hospitalised in the past 12 months, poor self-rated health status, multisite pain, overweight, and having a disability were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Religious activity was in unadjusted analysis negatively associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, among men, current smoking increased the odds of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms affected about one in ten persons 45 years and older in Indonesia in 2023 and were associated with poorer physical health, including hospitalisation, disability, multisite pain, poor self-rated health, and overweight. Among men, current smoking was an additional risk factor.