Scoping Review on Depression Among Empty-Nest Elderly

With accelerating population aging, the number of empty-nest elderly has exceeded 100 million, including around 20 million living alone. Characterized by long-term absence of children, solitary residence or living only with spouses, the empty-nest status greatly elevates depression risks, making this group a high-risk population for mental health issues among the elderly. Multiple meta-analyses indicate the pooled prevalence of depression ranges from 38% to 43%, markedly higher than that of non-empty-nest seniors with an odds ratio of approximately 2.0. Nevertheless, discrepancies exist in research design, sampling methods and assessment instruments, leading to inconsistent findings. There is also a lack of systematic review covering concept definition, measurement tools, influencing factors, intervention models and research gaps.