Depressive symptoms among older adults in Turkey: Evidence from a nationally representative ageing survey

Background: Late-life depression is a growing public health issue in ageing societies, influenced by health, functional, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors. Evidence integrating health, functional, psychosocial, and healthcare-access determinants using nationally representative data in Turkey remains limited. This study examined determinants of depressive symptoms among adults aged ≥65 years. Methods: This study analyzed data from 10,348 participants aged ≥65 years from the nationally representative Turkey Older Persons Profile Survey (TYPA 2023). All analyses incorporated survey sampling weights. Depressive symptoms were defined using the Geriatric Depression Scale-30 (GDS-30) (cut-off ≥10). Hierarchical logistic regression models were constructed in sequential blocks (sociodemographic; health and functional status; psychosocial and healthcare-related factors) to identify independent correlates. Results: The weighted mean age was 72.8 years; 55.1% were women, and 46.2% screened positive for depressive symptoms according to the applied screening threshold. In the fully adjusted model, depressive symptoms were associated with female sex, lower education, unmarried status, poorer self-rated health, sensory and functional limitations, perceived age-related restriction, perceived exclusion, and difficulties accessing or communicating with healthcare services. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms among older adults in Turkey reflect the combined influence of health decline, functional limitations, negative psychosocial perceptions of ageing, and barriers to healthcare access. Interventions addressing functional decline, financial strain, ageism, and access barriers may support better mental health in later life and inform public health and ageing-related policies.