Depression in Tibetan Residents of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Author Information
Author(s): Chen Yuji, Long Ga, Huang Qing, Zhang Ping, Xu Nie
Primary Institution: Chengdu First People’s Hospital
Hypothesis
How does altitude affect the prevalence of depression among Tibetan residents?
Conclusion
The study found that the prevalence of depression among Tibetan residents living at high altitudes is significantly higher than the national average.
Supporting Evidence
- 41.2% of participants lived at elevations exceeding 3500 m.
- The weighted prevalence of depression was found to be 24.62%.
- Depression prevalence increased with age, peaking in the 55-64 age group.
- Logistic regression showed that living at high altitudes is a significant risk factor for depression.
Takeaway
People living in high places, like Tibet, often feel sadder than those living at lower altitudes, especially as they get older.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 to assess depressive symptoms.
Potential Biases
Sample bias due to convenience sampling and potential subjectivity in self-reported depression levels.
Limitations
The study used convenience sampling, which may introduce bias, and its cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
Participant Demographics
Participants were Tibetan residents aged 15 and older, with a mean age of 56.81 years, 52.8% male and 47.2% female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.35–2.91
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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