目標：憂鬱為老人常見之心理衛生問題。本研究之目的在於調查南部社區老人之憂鬱症狀盛行率及相關因素。方法：研究對象係從1994年高雄市某一社區長期照護研究[1]之樣本群(N=1,221)中，依樣本之心理衛生狀況良好與否，分層隨機抽樣210位老人(n1=n2=105)進行面對面之問卷訪視；研究期間為1995年1月至3月。憂鬱症狀之測量主要依據美國流行病學研究中心之憂鬱量表(Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D)。結果：研究結果顯示，如以CES-D量表得分大於或等於16做為具有憂鬱症狀之標準，則樣本之憂鬱症狀盛行率為31.3%，CES-D量表平均得 分為13.21，標準差10.74。在男性和女性方面的盛行率分別為22.0%與39.6%；而在心理衛生狀況較佳及較差的兩組樣本，其盛行率分別為23.0%與65.3%。另依據邏輯迴歸分析的結果，憂鬱症狀之相關因素包括：年齡、性別、受訪前一年心理衛生狀況、身體健康狀況，以及家庭支持。結論：本研究確認人口學因素、社會因素與身體健康狀況都是影響憂鬱症狀的相關因素。

Objectives: Depression is recognized as one of the major mental health problems among the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling elderly in southern Taiwan. Methods: This study involved selecting subjects from a group of elderly who participated in a long-term care survey (N=1,221) in 1994[1]. In total, 210 subjects (n1=n2=105) were recruited according to their mental health status. Data for this study were collect ed by face-to-face interviews between January and March 1995. The symptoms of depression were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: The mean score of the CES-D was 13.21 with a standard deviation 10.74. Using a cut-off point of greater than or equal to 16 on the CES-D score yielded a depression rate of 39.6% for women and 22.0% for men, with an overall depression rate in this study population of 31.3%. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 23.0% from the gr oup with