The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between depression and bone mineral density in Korean elder men (55+), and test mediating role of health behaviors. Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2006-2011 data were analyzed. Bone mineral density was measured using DXA. Depression was measured by whether a participant had diagnosed depression, depressed mood lasted longer than 2 weeks, and/or suicidal thinking. Mediating health behaviors were serum vitamine D, calcium intake, high-risk drinking, endurance physical actiity, and resistance exercise. The associations among depression, health behaviors, and bone mineral density with demographic covariates were tested by linear regression, logistic regression, and path analysis. Diagnosed depression was not significantly associated with bone mineral density. Men who experienced substantial depressed mood and suicidal thinking has significantly lower bone mineral density than non-experienced counterparts. The effect of suicidal thinking on bone mineral density was mediated by endurance physical activity only. This study results suggest that elder men who experienced severely depressed mood and suicidal thinking were at-risk population for osteopenia. Also, physical activity intervention seems to be a priority to prevent osteoporosis comorbidity in depressed people.
