Loneliness, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Immigrants: A Moderating Role of Familial Relationships

Abstract Objectives Immigration is a stressful life event, and immigrants commonly experience loneliness, a risk factor for depression. However, little is known about how and whether older immigrants’ perceived stress exposure/appraisals mediate the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Further, this study explores whether familial relationships moderate the indirect or direct effects of the mediation models. Method: This study uses the 2012 Health and Retirement Study from a sample of 719 immigrants age 57 and older. A series of moderated mediation analyses were conducted across the total number of stress exposure and eight stress appraisal domains. Results The findings indicate that the total number of stress exposure and five domains of stress appraisals (health problems in self, physical/emotional problems in spouse/child, financial strain, housing problems, and close relationships in others) mediate the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms. In addition, the perceived negative strain from family moderated the mediating effect of health problems and housing problems in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Discussion This study suggests that negative relationships with family may increase upsetting in stress appraisals on health and housing problems, which turn in increased depressive symptoms for lonely older immigrants. Practitioners need to assess older immigrants’ stressors and family relationships to understand their loneliness and depressive symptoms.

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Loneliness, age at immigration, family relationships, and depression among older immigrants: A moderated relationship

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/02654075211061279 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026540752110612

Author(s):

Heejung Jang ◽

Fengyan Tang

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Relations ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Study Data ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Familial Relationships ◽

Older Immigrants

Guided by a convoy model of social relations, this study explores the complex relationships between loneliness, age at immigration, familial relationships, and depressive symptoms among older immigrants. This study used 2010 Health and Retirement Study data from a sample of 575 immigrants (52% female, age range 65–99 years). Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated. The findings indicate that for older immigrants who came to the United States at age 45 or older, loneliness was significantly positively associated with depressive symptoms. Further, perceived negative strain and hours spent helping family moderated this relationship such that the effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms was stronger among respondents who perceived more negative family strain and spent fewer hours helping family. Familial relationships are crucial for the psychological well-being of older immigrants because they can be a source of either stress or support. The results have implications for how research and practices can support the immigrant families.

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BLACK-WHITE DIFFERENCES IN CHRONIC STRESS: DOES APPRAISAL MATTER FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.688 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S191-S192

Author(s):

Lauren Brown ◽

Leah Abrams ◽

Uchechi Mitchell ◽

Jennifer Ailshire

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Stress Exposure ◽

Stress Appraisal ◽

Older Adulthood ◽

Health Burden ◽

Blacks And Whites ◽

Retirement Study

Abstract Prior research has suggested that exposure to objectively stressful events contributes to mental health disparities in older adulthood. Yet, in order to understand the extent to which some groups bear a disproportionate stress and mental health burden, we consider black-white differences in not only stress exposure, but also stress appraisal—how upsetting the exposures are perceived to be across five domains (health, financial, residential, relationship and caregiving). Data come from 6,019 adults ages 52+ from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study. Fully adjusted models show stress exposure and appraisal significantly and independently predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms. Race and stress exposure interactions show that exposure differently predicts anxiety and depressive symptoms while race and appraisal interactions show blacks and whites report similar increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Findings suggest stress exposure has varying consequences for mental health of whites and blacks, while stress appraisals have similar consequences across groups.

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Measuring More Than Exposure: Does Stress Appraisal Matter for Black–White Differences in Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa040 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lauren L Brown ◽

Leah R Abrams ◽

Uchechi A Mitchell ◽

Jennifer A Ailshire

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Race Differences ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Stress Exposure ◽

Mental Health Disparities ◽

Stress Appraisal ◽

Chronic Stressors

Abstract Background and Objectives Prior research and theory suggest that exposure to objectively stressful events contributes to mental health disparities. Yet, blacks report higher cumulative stress exposure than whites but lower levels of common psychiatric disorders. In order to understand why blacks bear disproportionate stress exposure but similar or better mental health relative to whites, we need to consider race differences in not only stress exposure, but also stress appraisal—how upsetting stress exposures are perceived to be. Research Design and Methods We examine whether race differences in the number of reported chronic stressors across 5 domains (health, financial, residential, relationship, and caregiving) and their appraised stressfulness explain black–white differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Data come from 6019 adults aged older than 52 from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study. Results Older blacks in this sample experience greater exposure to chronic stressors but appraise stressors as less upsetting relative to whites. In fully adjusted models, stress exposure is related to higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and perceiving stress as upsetting is associated with higher symptomology for whites and blacks. We also find that blacks report greater anxiety symptoms but fewer depressive symptoms with more stress exposure relative to whites. Stress appraisal partially explains race differences in the association between stress exposure and anxiety symptoms and fully explains race differences in the association between exposure and depressive symptoms. Discussion and Implications The relationship between race, chronic stress exposure, and mental health is mediated by stress appraisal. Stress appraisal provides insight on important pathways contributing to black–white mental health disparities in older adulthood.

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Disentangling the Stress Process: Race/Ethnic Differences in the Exposure and Appraisal of Chronic Stressors Among Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby072 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 650-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Lauren L Brown ◽

Uchechi A Mitchell ◽

Jennifer A Ailshire

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Ethnic Differences ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Financial Strain ◽

Stress Exposure ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Stress Appraisal ◽

Chronic Stressors ◽

Stress Burden

Abstract Objectives Exposure to stressors is differentially distributed by race/ethnicity with minority groups reporting a higher stress burden than their white counterparts. However, to really understand the extent to which some groups bear a disproportionate stress burden, we need to consider race/ethnic differences in stress appraisal, specifically how upsetting stressors may be, in addition to stress exposure. We examine racial/ethnic differences in both the number of reported chronic stressors across five domains (health, financial, residential, relationship, and caregiving) and their appraised stressfulness among a diverse sample of older adults. Method Data come from 6,567 adults ages 52+ from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study. Results Results show older blacks, U.S. and foreign-born Hispanics report more chronic stress exposure than whites and are two to three times as likely to experience financial strain and housing-related stress. Socioeconomic factors fully explain the Hispanic–white difference in stress exposure, but black–white differences remain. Despite experiencing a greater number of stressors, blacks and U.S.-born Hispanics are less likely to be upset by exposure to stressors than whites. U.S.-born Hispanics are less upset by relationship-based stressors specifically, while blacks are less upset across all stress domains in fully-adjusted models. Foreign-born Hispanics are only less upset by caregiving strain. Discussion The distinction between exposure and appraisal-based measures of stress may shed light on important pathways that differentially contribute to race/ethnic physical and mental health disparities.

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Financial strain and depressive symptoms in Hong Kong elderly Chinese: The moderating or mediating effect of sense of control

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607860020020609 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 23-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Kee-Lee Chou ◽

Iris Chi

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Financial Strain ◽

Sense Of Control ◽

Elderly Chinese

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Age at Immigration and Depression in Old Age: The Mediating Role of Contemporary Relationships With Adult Children

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.087 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 27-27

Author(s):

Heejung Jang

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Adult Children ◽

Adult Child ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Familial Relationships ◽

Older Immigrants

Abstract For the growing population of older immigrants in the United States, both age at immigration and familial relationships are important factors affecting psychological well-being. This study explores how age at immigration and contemporary relationships with adult children combine to explain older immigrants’ depressive symptoms. This study uses 2014 Health and Retirement Study data from a sample of 759 immigrants age 65 and older who have at least one adult child age 21 or older. A series of ordinary least squares regressions and mediational analyses were conducted. Findings indicate that two aspects of familial relationships, associational solidarity and structural solidarity, significantly mediate the association between age at immigration and depressive symptoms. Specifically, immigrating in later-life was associated with a lower level of depressive symptoms through its relationship with structural solidarity. Immigrating in later-life was also associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms through its relationship with associational solidarity. In addition, giving monetary support to children and providing care for grandchildren may alleviate depressive symptoms for older immigrants. This study suggests that relationships with adult children may differ with age at immigration. The types of support that older immigrants provide to their adult children may be crucial because such support may instill a sense of obligation and reciprocity that may be beneficial to the psychological well-being of older immigrants.

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Adjustment to COVID-19 Lockdown Among Italian University Students: The Role of Concerns, Change in Peer and Family Relationships and in Learning Skills, Emotional, and Academic Self-Efficacy on Depressive Symptoms

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.643088 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Emanuela Calandri ◽

Federica Graziano ◽

Tatiana Begotti ◽

Elena Cattelino ◽

Silvia Gattino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

University Students ◽

Peer Relationships ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Learning Skills ◽

Academic Self Efficacy

In Italy strict containment measures against COVID-19 pandemic were implemented from March to May 2020 with home confinement and schools and universities closed. Students shifted to remote learning, experienced a forced isolation from peers and an increased sharing of time and spaces with the family. The influence of these aspects on the psychological adjustment of university students is largely unexplored. This paper was aimed at investigating the role of some correlates of depressive symptoms specific to the lockdown condition experienced by young university students, namely contagion concern, perceived worsening of family, and peer relationships and perceived worsening of learning skills. Moreover, the possible mediating effects of emotional and academic self-efficacy in these relationships were examined. Data were collected from 296 Italian university students (aged 18–25 years; 83% female students) through an online survey by means of a snowball sampling methodology in May 2020. Significant depressive symptoms were reported by 67% of participants. Contagion concerns were related to depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of emotional self-efficacy. Worsening of learning skills was related to depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of academic self-efficacy. Depressive symptoms were directly related to worsening of family relationships but unrelated to worsening of peer relationships. Results are discussed in relation to the need of preventive interventions for this specific population in view of academic activities planning in the post-COVID 19 period.

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