Healthy but unhappy? Cross-national comparative analysis of depressive symptoms in Japanese vs. Korean elders

Abstract

Background: Japan and South Korea, two neighbouring countries in East Asia, enjoy the highest life expectancies in the world, yet suffer paradoxically from high suicide rates. Aim: We sought to conduct a cross-national comparative analysis of depressive symptoms among older adults in Japan vs. Korea, focusing particularly on poverty and physical health status. Methods: We used nationally representative samples aged 65 and over from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan and the Korean Community Health Survey in South Korea. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to examine if equivalized household income, poor self-rated health, disability and comorbidity (number of diseases) were associated with depressive symptoms, adjusting for age, education, marital status, alcohol use, smoking and living alone. Results: Older Japanese adults with poor self-rated health and disability were more likely to report depressive symptoms, but income level was not significantly associated with mental distress. By contrast, among older Korean people, depressive symptoms were strongly patterned by household income level, as well as poor self-rated health, disability, and comorbidity. Conclusion: Poor physical health status was correlated with depressive symptoms among both Japanese and Korean seniors. However, income level was associated with depressive symptoms among only Korean elders, but not Japanese. Thus, the current generation of older Japanese adults appears to enjoy (relative) financial security, longevity, and mental wellbeing. By contrast, older Koreans experience high levels of mental distress, especially if they are financially insecure. © 2021