Urinary and fecal incontinence affect older women's social participation and mental health. This study examined the relationship between incontinence severity and depressive symptoms, focusing on the mediating effect of social participation, based on secondary analysis of structured interview data collected in December 2010 from 467 women age 60 and over in mainland China. Incontinence was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms but negatively associated with social participation. Social participation was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms and fully mediated the relationship between incontinence and depressive symptoms. These findings can inform mental health interventions for incontinent older women, including preventing and responding to depressive symptoms by promoting social participation.
Health & social work. 2017 Mar 28 [Epub ahead of print]
Daniel W L Lai, Xue Bai, Aimei Guo
Daniel W. L. Lai, PhD, is chair, professor of social work and gerontology, and head of Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HJ403, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong; e-mail: . Xue Bai, PhD, is assistant professor, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Aimei Guo, PhD, is professor, Ginling Women's College, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.