The longitudinal relationship between changes in smoking and depression in older male adults

In this study, we investigated the relationship between smoking habits and the development of depression among elderly males in South Korea. We used the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) data from 2006 to 2020 to analyze the longitudinal relationship between daily cigarette consumption and depression levels in elderly Korean men over 65 years-of-age, as measured on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D)-10 scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 28.0 and M-plus 8.0, with Latent Growth Modeling to determine the changes and relationships over time. Analysis revealed a declining average daily smoking rate from 4.50 cigarettes in 2006 to 0.85 in 2020, while depression scores exhibited fluctuations over this duration of time. Using a linear growth model, we identified that as the initial smoking rate was higher, the increase in depression was steeper over time (Coefficient = 0.016, p < 0.001). Furthermore, as smoking decreased progressively, the rise in depression was sharper, highlighting a potential relationship between decreasing smoking habits and increasing depression in elderly men (Coefficient = 0.030, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the reduction of smoking by elderly Korean men over time is associated with a notable increase in depression. This relationship suggests a complex interplay between mental health and lifestyle changes, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches when addressing health issues in the aging population. Our findings suggest that policies targeting elderly men should address this potential relationship, and that comprehensive interventions now need to manage both smoking cessation and mental health simultaneously.