Background: Elderly Sri Lankans (11.2% of the nation’s population) have witnessed many years of ethnic
conflict, a destructive tsunami and increasing emigration of young adults. However, very little is known about
the prevalence and correlates of depression among them. The present study utilizes data from a national
aging survey to document the prevalence and correlates of clinically significant depressive symptoms among
community-dwelling elderly Sri Lankans (aged =60 years).
Methods: The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was administered to 1181 elderly Sri Lankans; the
presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was defined as a GDS-15 score of =6. Sociodemographic
and health correlates of depressive symptoms were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Interactions
between gender and other correlates were also assessed.
Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed to be 27.8% overall: 24.0% for men, and 30.8%
for women. Certain subgroups of the elderly, i.e. those with disabilities, functional limitations, perceived
income inadequacy, minorities, and elderly living alone, were significantly more likely to report depressive
symptoms. There was a significant interaction between gender and ethnicity.
Conclusion: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among Sri Lankan elderly people is higher than that
reported for most Asian countries. Clinicians and caregivers need to be aware of the potential presence of
depressive symptoms among the elderly, especially among those with lower educational levels, functional
limitations, hearing difficulty, physical disability, perceived income inadequacy, and among those who live
alone, and ethnic minority males.