Trajectories of depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults: a longitudinal study
Trayectorias de síntomas depresivos en adultos de mediana edad y personas mayores: un estudio longitudinal
Trajetórias de sintomas depressivos em adultos de meia-idade e pessoas idosas: um estudo longitudinal
Juliana de Oliveira Bezerra; Ana Carolina Rodrigues Gualdi; Marisa Matias; Maria Raquel Barbosa; Marcelo Kwiatkoski; Bruna Moretti Luchesi; Tatiana Carvalho Reis Martins
Abstract
Objective to identify the trajectories of depressive symptoms in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and their relationship with age group, sleep problems, and living arrangements.
Method longitudinal study with 300 participants aged 45 years and older, conducted in Family Health Units in the countryside of Mato Grosso do Sul, with data collected in 2018–2019, 2021, and 2023. The Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression scale and questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics, sleep problems, and living arrangements were used.
Results a significant reduction in depressive symptoms was observed in the second assessment, during the pandemic, with maintenance in the following evaluation. No statistical differences were found by age group. Individuals with sleep complaints showed higher depressive symptom scores but demonstrated progressive improvement. Participants living alone presented an initial reduction in symptoms during the pandemic, followed by an increase afterward.
Conclusion and implications for practice the improvement in depressive symptoms may have occurred due to emotional adaptation to the pandemic. Factors such as sleep complaints and living alone should be considered in mental health actions aimed at older adults and individuals in the aging process.
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Objetivo: identificar as trajetórias de sintomas depressivos em adultos de meia-idade e em pessoas idosas da comunidade, antes, durante e após a pandemia da COVID-19, bem como sua relação com a faixa etária, os problemas com sono e o arranjo de moradia.
Método: estudo longitudinal com 300 participantes com idade igual ou superior a 45 anos, realizado em Unidades de Saúde da Família no interior de Mato Grosso do Sul, com coletas em 2018–2019, 2021 e 2023, utilizando a escalaCenter for Epidemiological Studies – Depressione questões de caracterização sociodemográfica, problemas de sono e arranjo de moradia.
Resultados: observou-se uma redução significativa nos sintomas depressivos na segunda avaliação, realizada durante a pandemia, e a manutenção dos resultados na avaliação seguinte. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as faixas etárias. Indivíduos com queixas relacionadas ao sono apresentaram maiores escores de sintomas depressivos, embora tenham demonstrado melhora progressiva. Participantes que moravam sozinhos apresentaram redução inicial dos sintomas durante a pandemia, seguida de um novo aumento após esse período.
Conclusão e implicações para prática: a melhora dos sintomas depressivos pode ter acontecido devido à adaptação emocional diante da pandemia. Fatores como as queixas de sono e o fato de morar sozinho devem ser considerados em ações de saúde mental voltadas aos indivíduos idosos e em processo de envelhecimento.
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References
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Accepted date:
10/14/2025
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