Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol 53, Issue 1 P31-P39, Copyright © 1998 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Social correlates of the dimensions of depression in the elderly

JC Hays, LR Landerman, LK George, EP Flint, HG Koenig, KC Land and DG Blazer
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, USA. jch@geri.duke.edu

Few investigations of the social correlates of depressive symptomatology have addressed variation in the correlates across multiple dimensions of depression scales. We examined the relationships of selected social, clinical, and demographic correlates with four dimensions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale in 3,401 community-dwelling elders in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. These correlates explained significant variation in somatic complaints and depressed affect; effects of chronic disability and recent negative events were particularly robust. Having a confidant explained reduced symptomatology for all four dimensions, but particularly for low positive affect and interpersonal problems. Positive affect was also buttressed by helping others. These patterns have particular relevance where treatment for depression is divorced from considerations of the social environment of the elderly patient.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. S. Wilson, J. L. Bienias, C. F. Mendes de Leon, D. A. Evans, and D. A. Bennett Negative Affect and Mortality in Older Persons Am. J. Epidemiol., November 1, 2003; 158(9): 827 - 835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Magai, M.-D. Kerns, N. S. Consedine, and D. Fyffe Depression in Older Ethnic Groups: A Test of the Generality of the Social Precursors Model Research on Aging, March 1, 2003; 25(2): 144 - 171. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. McIlvane and J. P. Reinhardt Interactive Effect of Support From Family and Friends in Visually Impaired Elders J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2001; 56(6): P374 - 382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Zhang and M. D. Hayward Childlessness and the Psychological Well-Being of Older Persons J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2001; 56(5): S311 - 320. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Miller, A. Townsend, E. Carpenter, R. V. J. Montgomery, D. Stull, and R. F. Young Social Support and Caregiver Distress: A Replication Analysis J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2001; 56(4): S249 - 256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. G. Kutner, D. L. Bliwise, D. Brogan, and R. Zhang Race and Restless Sleep Complaint in Older Chronic Dialysis Patients and Nondialysis Community Controls J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., May 1, 2001; 56(3): P170 - P175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Falcón and K. L. Tucker Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptoms Among Hispanic Elders in Massachusetts J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2000; 55(2): 108S - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. B. Bosworth, I. C. Siegler, B. H. Brummett, J. C. Barefoot, R. B. Williams, P. P. Vitaliano, N. Clapp-Channing, B. L. Lytle, and D. B. Mark The Relationship between Self-Rated Health and Health Status among Coronary Artery Patients J Aging Health, November 1, 1999; 11(4): 565 - 584. [Abstract] [PDF]