The purposes of this study were to further elucidate the impact of life events of older people based on those previous
studies and to expand our understanding of depressive symptomatology by examining the independent impact of individual life event on change of clinically depressive symptoms, as well as, to assess the cumulative effect of life events on depression. Potential confounders such as age, educational level, marital status, developmental and social factors, alcohol consumption, medical history and physical component of quality of life were controlled in the statistical analysis.
A comprehensive analysis of the impact of life events on mental disorder could be achieved approximately 33% each were aged 65 to 69, 70 to 74, and 75 and older. Subjects who had bilateral hip replacements or unable to walk independently were excluded. The study sample differed from the general Hong Kong population of the same age group in that they were more educated and more likely to be married.