LSHTM Research Online

Ploubidis, GB; Grundy, E; (2009) Later-Life Mental Health in Europe: A Country-Level Comparison. The journals of gerontology Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 64 (5). pp. 666-76. ISSN 1079-5014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp026

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of country of residence on depression and well-being among older Europeans, after establishing the between-country measurement invariance of both constructs. METHODS: We used data from a cross-sectional nationally representative population-based sample of older Europeans, the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The analysis sample comprised 13,498 older Europeans from nine countries. The EURO-D was used to measure depression, and a well-being outcome was derived from self-report items available in SHARE. The between-country measurement invariance of both mental health outcomes was established using modern psychometric modeling techniques. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic characteristics and the presence of chronic illness, Spain was the country scoring highest on depression and Denmark highest on well-being. Optimal mental health was associated with higher educational attainment and being married. DISCUSSION: There is considerable between-country heterogeneity in later-life mental health in Europe. The Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, and Austria, do best (low depression/high well-being), followed by Germany and France, whereas residents of Spain, Italy, and Greece report the worst mental health.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty and Department:	Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Population Health (2012- ) > Dept of Population Studies (1974-2012) Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Population Health (2012- )
PubMed ID:	19414867
Web of Science ID:	269441100015
URI:	http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/5442

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