Published on March 20, 2013 at 1:38 PM
"Older adults who live in assisted living or residential units for older adults would likely score differently," said Norman Abeles, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at Michigan State University in East Lansing. People in those situations may also have more physical symptoms and cognitive problems, he noted. The link between rural living and an increased risk of depression, while known to mental health professionals, may not be more widely known, Abeles added.
"Our [earlier research] revealed that the higher probability of depression outside metropolitan areas was not explained by the age or gender composition of the sample, nor by respondents' socioeconomic status, health status or social relationships," said Mechakra-Tahiri. Living in a rural area may be a risk factor due to isolation and the stress of working in agriculture, with its economic uncertainty and dependence on crops and weather, she added.
Source: Michigan State University