Alcohol Consumption and Factors Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in Mainland China

Background: High levels of alcohol consumption have been shown to be related to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic disease and is an important variable in the global burden of disease. Purpose: This study explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults in mainland China. Methods: Participants included 7601 people aged 60 or older who participated in the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Hierarchical generalized linear modeling (HGLM) was used. Results: Findings indicate that men have a decreased risk of experiencing depressive symptoms by 47% when controlling for other independent variables. People living only with a spouse were less likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to people living alone. Discussion: The findings have important implications in educating Chinese about alcohol and the relationship between alcohol and disease-related variables. Translation to Health Education Practice: The results of this study may assist those developing and delivering alcohol Health Education and health promotion programs in China to focus on the relevant predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors influencing alcohol consumption.