Objectives
We evaluated birth‐cohort differences in depressive symptom burden, prevalence of depression diagnoses, and neuroticism, among Swedish 70‐year‐olds examined between 1976 and 2016.
Methods
We used a repeated cross‐sectional design examining four representative population samples of Swedish 70‐year‐olds (total n = 2279) with identical methods in 1976–77 (n = 392), 1992–93 (n = 226), 2000–02 (n = 487), and 2014–16 (n = 1166). Depressive symptom burden was rated with the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Major depression was diagnosed according to DSM‐5, and minor depression according to DSM‐IV‐TR research criteria. Neuroticism was rated with the Eysenck Personality Inventory.
Results
For women in 2014–16, MADRS score (4.4 vs. 6.1 vs. 5.8; P < 0.05) and neuroticism (6.6 vs. 7.7 vs. 9.2; P < 0.05) were lower compared with 1992–93 and 1976–77, and the prevalence of any depression was lower compared with 2000–02 and 1992–93 (10.9% vs. 16.9% vs. 18.1%; P < 0.05). For men, we observed no birth‐cohort differences in depression, while neuroticism was found to be lower in 2014–16 compared with 1976–77 among men without depression (5.1 vs. 5.9; P < 0.01). The sex difference for MADRS and neuroticism declined between 1976–77 and 2014–16 (cohort*sex P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Depressive burden and neuroticism decreased in 70‐year‐old women between 1976 and 2016.