Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis
Abstract Background Few studies have explored the relationship between the number of children and depression in older adults, especially across multiple countries. Methods In this Multi-National Cross-Sectional Analysis, we included the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, US), the English Longitudinal...
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2025-08-01
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| author | Jinming Zhang Penghui Feng Xingtong Chen Jiaming Wu Falin He |
| author_facet | Jinming Zhang Penghui Feng Xingtong Chen Jiaming Wu Falin He |
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| description | Abstract Background Few studies have explored the relationship between the number of children and depression in older adults, especially across multiple countries. Methods In this Multi-National Cross-Sectional Analysis, we included the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, US), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), and the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), encompassing a total of 20 countries. The number of children was based on self-reports from the participants. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) and the European Depression Scale (EURO-D) were used to assess depression. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between the number of children and depression, adjusting for potential confounders. A random-effects meta-regression model was used to examine differences in the relationship between the number of children and depression between Asian and Western countries. To explore potential non-linear relationships, restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were utilized, and threshold effect analyses were performed to validate. Additionally, subgroup analyses were stratified by age, sex, and marital status. Results A total of 110,015 participants from six datasets were included. The prevalence of depressive symptoms ranged from 10.7% in the UK to 48.8% in Poland. Childlessness was most common in ELSA (15.8%), followed by SHARE (9.6%) and HRS (8.4%), while lower proportions were observed in CLHLS (1.5%), KLoSA (2.3%), and LASI (3.1%). In Western countries, childlessness was not significantly associated with depression (HRS: OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.83–1.23; ELSA: OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.69–1.17; SHARE: OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.97–1.15). However, in Asian countries, it was linked to a higher risk (CLHLS: OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.29–3.12; KLoSA: OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.24–2.55; LASI: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19–1.49). A random-effects meta-analysis confirmed this regional difference (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15–0.55; P < 0.001). A non-linear association was observed between the number of children and depression in LASI and SHARE, with risk initially decreasing and then rising beyond a threshold. Subgroup analysis found a stronger association among ≤ 75 years individuals and men in KLoSA. In HRS, childlessness was associated with a higher risk of depression only among those living alone. Conclusions The relationship between the number of children and depression varies across countries. Individuals in Asian countries may be more prone to depression than those in Western nations when they do not have children. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e4d8d648b2b4fd68526fd2970f74c5e |
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| spelling | doaj-art-5e4d8d648b2b4fd68526fd2970f74c5e2025-08-20T03:05:16ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-08-0125111010.1186/s12888-025-07206-3Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysisJinming Zhang0Penghui Feng1Xingtong Chen2Jiaming Wu3Falin He4National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeNational Center for Clinical Laboratories, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyNational Center for Clinical Laboratories, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyNational Center for Clinical Laboratories, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital, National Center of GerontologyAbstract Background Few studies have explored the relationship between the number of children and depression in older adults, especially across multiple countries. Methods In this Multi-National Cross-Sectional Analysis, we included the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, US), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), and the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), encompassing a total of 20 countries. The number of children was based on self-reports from the participants. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) and the European Depression Scale (EURO-D) were used to assess depression. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between the number of children and depression, adjusting for potential confounders. A random-effects meta-regression model was used to examine differences in the relationship between the number of children and depression between Asian and Western countries. To explore potential non-linear relationships, restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were utilized, and threshold effect analyses were performed to validate. Additionally, subgroup analyses were stratified by age, sex, and marital status. Results A total of 110,015 participants from six datasets were included. The prevalence of depressive symptoms ranged from 10.7% in the UK to 48.8% in Poland. Childlessness was most common in ELSA (15.8%), followed by SHARE (9.6%) and HRS (8.4%), while lower proportions were observed in CLHLS (1.5%), KLoSA (2.3%), and LASI (3.1%). In Western countries, childlessness was not significantly associated with depression (HRS: OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.83–1.23; ELSA: OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.69–1.17; SHARE: OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.97–1.15). However, in Asian countries, it was linked to a higher risk (CLHLS: OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.29–3.12; KLoSA: OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.24–2.55; LASI: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.19–1.49). A random-effects meta-analysis confirmed this regional difference (β = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15–0.55; P < 0.001). A non-linear association was observed between the number of children and depression in LASI and SHARE, with risk initially decreasing and then rising beyond a threshold. Subgroup analysis found a stronger association among ≤ 75 years individuals and men in KLoSA. In HRS, childlessness was associated with a higher risk of depression only among those living alone. Conclusions The relationship between the number of children and depression varies across countries. Individuals in Asian countries may be more prone to depression than those in Western nations when they do not have children.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07206-3DepressionNumber of children |
| spellingShingle | Jinming Zhang Penghui Feng Xingtong Chen Jiaming Wu Falin He Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis BMC Psychiatry Depression Number of children |
| title | Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis |
| title_full | Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis |
| title_fullStr | Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis |
| title_short | Association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older: a multi-national cross-sectional analysis |
| title_sort | association between the number of children and depression in the population aged 50 years and older a multi national cross sectional analysis |
| topic | Depression Number of children |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07206-3 |
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