本研究透過長期追蹤調查樣本，探討臺灣地區65歲（含）以上原本無憂鬱的老人，經濟壓力對於憂鬱傾向的影響。資料來源為行政院衛生署國民健康局行政院衛生署國民健康局1999、2003年「臺灣地區中老年身心社會生活狀況長期追蹤調查」資料。憂鬱傾向以CES-D量表評估，以1999年無憂鬱者為研究對象，有效樣本為1,275人。經描述性統計和卡方考驗分析後的發現與結論如下：年紀較輕的老人在經濟匱乏與經濟資源流失比年紀較老的老人比例高；無偶的老人在經濟匱乏比例較高，但是經濟資源流失的比例低。自覺健康狀況差的老人在經濟匱乏與經濟資源流失的比例高。性別與學歷在經濟壓力上無差異。

Economic stress is a major issue for the elderly. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between financial stress and tendency toward depression of the elderly in Taiwan. The survey data were drawn from a representative panel survey of Taiwanese elderly. There were 1,275 elderly who completed the survey. The survey consisted of status of financial stress and tendency toward depression, and was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Data were analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and the Chi-square approach. The results found that the younger elderly had significant higher financial strain and financial resource loss. The single elderly had higher financial strain but had lower financial resource loss than did the married ones. The elderly who perceived themselves as being in poor health had significantly higher financial strain and financial resource loss. There were no significant differences of financial stress between genders and among different levels of educational status.