Free Public Transport for Older Adults Tied to Less Depression

A U.K. study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found the mental health of older adults improves when public transport becomes accessible to them with the elimination of cost, reports Reuters . By following 18,453 people for more than a decade, the researchers found increased eligibility for a free bus pass led to an 8 percent increase in the use of public transportation among older people, and a 12 percent reduction in depression symptoms among those who started taking the bus when they qualified for the program. In investigating the effect of eligibility for free bus travel, the team associated it with 51 percent higher odds of people using public transportation. After adjusting for age, gender, disability, and employment and pension status, greater use of public transport was linked to an average 1-point decrease in scores on an 8-point scale for measuring depression symptoms. "This study should motivate policymakers from other countries to adopt similar concessionary fare schemes that encourage public transport use, increase social engagement, and improve mental health," says King's College London's Erica Reinhard. The probability of older adults living alone rises as they age, and past research has demonstrated that older people who remain engaged in activities have better physical and mental health than those who are isolated and lonely. Reinhard's team notes a lack of social engagement can trigger mental health problems and chronic illnesses in this population.