Mediating Role of Trait Mindfulness on the Relationships Between Age and Both Depressive and Anxiety Symptomology

Abstract Previous research has shown that despite experiencing more negative life events, older adults maintain relatively high levels of well-being compared to their younger counterparts. This effect appears to be at least partially mediated by trait mindfulness in older adults (Raes et al., 2013). The current study expanded into an investigation as to how trait mindfulness might intervene on the relationship between age and other well-being indicators: anxiety and depressive symptomology. Participants included 30 older adults (aged 60-83) and 41 young adults (aged 18-35). Trait mindfulness was examined using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), while depressive symptoms and trait anxiety were measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. Two separate mediated multiple regression models were conducted using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro in SPSS. Trait mindfulness exhibited a significant indirect effect on the relationship between age and depressive symptoms (β = -2.27, p < .005), which was also seen for the relationship between age and trait anxiety (β = -4.17, p < .001). Older age predicted higher trait mindfulness, which in turn predicted diminished self-reported anxiety and depressive symptomology. Controlling for mindfulness in these models reduced the direct effect of age on depression and anxiety to non-significance. These findings imply that the relationship between age and trait mindfulness can be extended to alternative markers of well-being.

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The Effects of Religiosity on Depression Trajectories Before and After Widowhood

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2184 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 572-572

Author(s):

Frances Hawes ◽

Jane Tavares ◽

Corina Ronneberg ◽

Edward Miller

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Well Being ◽

Living Alone ◽

Religious Service ◽

Religious Service Attendance ◽

Depressive Symptomology ◽

The Relationship ◽

Service Attendance

Abstract Widowhood is associated with decreased emotional well-being, particularly increased depression. Religiosity may help improve mental health among widowed individuals. However, longitudinal studies exploring the role of religiosity on emotional well-being among widowed older adults is lacking, as are studies which examine this relationship using different dimensions of religiosity. This study analyzed data from the 2006-2016 waves of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Trajectories of depression among older adults >50 years (N=5,486) were examined to explore patterns of depression among those entering widowhood and the potential impact of religiosity on depressive symptoms during widowhood. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to examine the association between widowhood and depression as well as the role of religiosity as a moderator of this association. Older adults experienced an increase in depressive symptomology after the onset of widowhood, and although the levels of depressive symptomology decrease post-widowhood, they do not return to their pre-widowhood levels. Additionally, high religious service attendance and higher intrinsic religiosity were both associated with lower depressive symptomology. High religious service attendance moderated the relationship between widowhood and depression. The relationship between high religious service attendance and depression was stronger among widowed older adults living alone. This study highlights the long-term effects of widowhood on depressive symptomology among older adults. The findings also suggest that higher religious service attendance can lessen the effects of widowhood on depressive symptoms, especially for those living alone. These findings may inform intervention development around increased screening and treatment for depression.

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Pensions and Depressive Symptoms of Older Adults in China: The Mediating Role of Intergenerational Support

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073725 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3725

Author(s):

Hui He ◽

Ling Xu ◽

Noelle Fields

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Insurance ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Work And Family ◽

Intergenerational Support ◽

Mediation Analyses ◽

Mediating Role

This study aimed to investigate the relations between pensions and depressive symptoms of Chinese older people, and whether intergenerational support mediated such association. Secondary data was drawn from Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2014 (N = 6687). Depressive symptoms were measured by 12-item version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Intergenerational support was measured by financial, instrumental, and emotional support. About 80.1% of the participants had pension and the mean score of depressive symptoms of the participants was 17.10 (SD = 4.35) with a range from 12 to 36. The results from hierarchical linear regression revealed that there was significantly association between pensions and lower levels of depressive symptoms (B = −0.645, p < 0.000). Findings of mediation analyses also indicated that financial support from adult children played a mediating role between pensions and depressive symptoms (B = −0.039, 95% CI [−0.064, −0.018], z = −3.082, p = 0.002). Findings from this study enrich our theoretical and practical understanding of the roles of intergenerational support, and offer implications for social insurance policy, social work, and family support interventions for Chinese older adults.

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The Impact of Work Hours on Depressive Symptoms among Koreans Aged 45 and Over

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 853

Author(s):

Juyeong Kim ◽

Eun-Cheol Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Services ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Work Hours ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Health Studies ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.

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Intergenerational Relationships, Social Support, and Psychological Well-Being Among Korean Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1608 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 498-498

Author(s):

Yooumi Lee ◽

Janet Wilmoth

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Linear Models ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Adult Child ◽

Intergenerational Relationships ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Well Being

Abstract This study investigates whether intergenerational relationships and social support improve the psychological well-being of Korean older adults. We examine whether intergenerational relationships and social support directly influence psychological well-being and the extent to which they mediate the distressing consequences of life events such as declining health and recent widowhood. Using longitudinal data from the 2006 to 2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, we explore depression trajectories among individuals who are 60 or older with at least one living adult child at baseline. Specifically, we converted data from 5,383 older adults into a person-period file with 24,726 observations over a ten-year period. Then we estimated linear growth curve models of depression trajectories separately for men and women using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results from the hierarchical linear models indicate that declining health and recent widowhood are positively related to depressive symptoms. Satisfactory intergenerational relationships and social support in the form of personal interactions and proximate living arrangements with adult children decrease depressive symptoms of older parents, especially among women. We conclude that the psychological benefits of intergenerational relationships and social support are contingent upon the vulnerability of older adults and discuss the implications for public policy.

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Satisfaction with Life: Mediating Role in the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Coping Mechanisms

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9070787 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 787

Author(s):

Daniela Almeida ◽

Diogo Monteiro ◽

Filipe Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Coping Mechanisms ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Mediating Role ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between fourteen coping strategies and depressive symptoms in the Portuguese population. To undertake this work, 313 Portuguese adults aged 18 to 70 years (M = 30.73; SD = 10.79) were invited to participate in this study. Their participation was completely voluntary, and participants granted and signed informed consent previously to the filling of the validated Portuguese questionnaires. These questionnaires measured depressive symptoms, coping, and life satisfaction. The results revealed that life satisfaction displayed a mediating role in the relationship between adaptive coping mechanisms, specifically between active coping, planning, reinterpretation, and acceptance and depressive symptoms, showing a negative and significant indirect effect. Maladaptive coping mechanisms of self-blame, denial, self-distraction, disengagement, and substance use had a significant positive association with depressive symptoms, considering the mediating role of satisfaction with life. Current investigation provides initial evidence of how each coping mechanism is associated with satisfaction with life and depressive symptoms. This study clearly demonstrates that not all coping strategies are capable of influencing well-being indicators and that health professionals should focus on endorsing those that are significantly associated with lowering depressive symptoms and increasing overall satisfaction with life.

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The Relationship Between Reported Pain and Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents

The Journal of School Nursing ◽

10.1177/1059840518787007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 87-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sofie Borgman ◽

Ida Ericsson ◽

Eva K. Clausson ◽

Pernilla Garmy

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Scale Scores ◽

Prevalence Of Pain ◽

The Relationship

Pain and depressive symptoms are common reasons for adolescents to contact the school nurse. The aim was to describe the prevalence of pain (headache, abdominal pain, and back pain) and depressive symptoms among adolescents and to examine whether there is an association between pain and depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional survey included students ( N = 639) in Sweden (median age: 16 years). Over half of the female participants (56%) and one third of male participants (33%) had weekly headaches, abdominal pain, or back pain. Almost every second girl (48%) and one in four boys (25%) had depressive symptoms (as measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, scores ≥ 16). There was a significant association between having pain (headache, abdominal pain, or back pain) and having depressive symptoms. It is of great importance for school nurses to adequately identify and treat the cause of pain and other factors contributing to depression.

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Socio-demographic characteristics and co-occurrence of depressive symptoms with chronic diseases among older adults in China: the China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey

10.21203/rs.2.12280/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Zhenjie Wang ◽

Hanmo Yang ◽

Zhanyuan Guo ◽

Bei Liu ◽

Shen Geng

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Logistic Regression Model ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Education Attainment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Survey

Abstract Background: The aim of the current study is to assess the cross-sectional association of chronic non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and cerebrovascular) with depressive symptoms among older adults in China. Methods: Data was obtained from the China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey (CLASS) conducted in 2014. A total of 7505 participants were included. Depressive symptoms status was assessed by 9-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) Associations between depressive symptoms and chronic diseases, adjusting for so, demographics and chronic diseases risk factors were assessed by using logistic regression model. Results: We found negative associations between depressive symptoms and several socioeconomic factors, including education attainment and economic level. Widowed/divorced/ unmarried individuals are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms. Hypertension (Odds ratio:1.29 [95%CI:1.16, 1.42]), diabetes (1.41 [95%CI:1.19,1.67]), arthritis (1.72 [1.52, 1.96]), and cerebrovascular disease (1.69 [1.41, 2.02]) were found to be associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Most depressive symptoms cases were found to be significantly associated with chronic diseases. Our findings have provided evidence for understanding co-morbid depressive symptoms with chronic diseases, which could help clinicians to evaluate, diagnose and manage depression promptly.

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Relationship Between Frailty and Depression Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Social Support

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (8) ◽

pp. 1466-1475 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yaru Jin ◽

Huaxin Si ◽

Xiaoxia Qiao ◽

Xiaoyu Tian ◽

Xinyi Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background and Objectives Frailty is associated with depression in older adults and reduces their social support. However, the mechanism underlying such relationship remains unclear. We aim to examine whether social support acts as a mediator or moderator in the relationship between frailty and depression. Research Design and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,779 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older. Frailty, social support, and depressive symptoms were measured by the Physical Frailty Phenotype, Social Support Rating Scale, and five-item Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. Data were also collected on age, gender, years of schooling, monthly income, cognitive function, number of chronic diseases, physical function, and pain. Results Linear regression models showed that subjective support and support utilization, but not objective support, mediated and moderated the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms. The Johnson–Neyman technique determined a threshold of 30 for subjective support, but not for support utilization, beyond which the detrimental effect of frailty on depressive symptoms was offset. Discussion and Implications Social support underlies the association of frailty with depression, and its protective role varies by type. Interventions on depression should address improving perceptions and utilization of social support among frail older adults rather than simply providing them with objective support.

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Depressive Symptoms and Loneliness Among Black and White Older Adults: The Moderating Effects of Race

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa048 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Harry O Taylor ◽

Ann W Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Religious Service ◽

Religious Service Attendance ◽

Black And White ◽

The Relationship ◽

Service Attendance

Abstract Background and Objectives Loneliness is consistently linked to worse depression/depressive symptoms; however, there are few studies that have examined whether the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms varies by race. The purpose of this study was to determine whether race moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Research Design and Methods Data come from the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Core survey and Psychosocial Leave-Behind Questionnaire; only black and white older adults were included in the analysis (N = 6,469). Depressive symptoms were operationalized by the eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression scale; however, the “felt lonely” item was removed given concerns with collinearity. Loneliness was operationalized using the Hughes 3-Item Loneliness Scale. Sociodemographic variables included gender, age, education, household income, employment status, marital status, and living alone or with others. Furthermore, social support and negative interactions from family members and friends, and religious service attendance were included in the analysis. Lastly, we created an interaction term between race and loneliness. All analyses used survey weights to account for the complex multistage sampling design of the HRS. Missing data were multiply imputed. Results In multivariable analysis, we found race significantly moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms while controlling for sociodemographic covariates, social support and negative interaction variables, and religious service attendance. Discussion and Implications Our findings demonstrate a differential racial effect for loneliness and depressive symptoms. For both blacks and whites, greater loneliness affected depressive symptoms; however, the effect was stronger among whites than it was for blacks. Given this is one of the first studies to examine the differential effects of race on loneliness and depressive symptoms, more research is necessary to determine the consistency of these results.

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1089 Water Intake Moderates the Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Depressive Symptoms: The Latino Health and Well-Being Study

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.1084 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A414-A415

Author(s):

J Blanc ◽

N Williams ◽

G Jean-Louis ◽

S Lemon ◽

M Rosal

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Water Intake ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Community Based ◽

Latino Adults ◽

The Relationship ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Introduction This study examined the relationships between sleep quality and depressive symptoms, and whether this relationship is moderated by frequency of water intake in a sample of Latino adults. Methods Participants in this community-based study were 574 Latino adults from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Assessments included surveys and anthropological measures. Variables in this study included sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index- PSQI), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale -CES-D) and frequency of water intake in the previous three months (investigator-developed question). Covariates included demographics, stress (Perceived Stress Scale-PSS), and body mass index (BMI). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between sleep and depressive symptoms. Potential moderating effect of frequency of water intake was assessed using hierarchical, moderated, multiple regression analysis. Results The sample was 51.2% female, with a mean age of 46.6 years (SD=15.4) and mean BMI of 29.6 (SD=5.9); 31% of the sample had CES-D scores > 22 (cut off for elevated depressive symptoms), the mean PSQI score was 13.11(SD=3.4) and 92% reported water intake two or more times daily. Sleep quality correlated positively with depression (r=.558; p=.000). After adjusting for covariates, sleep quality was strongly associated with depression (B = .417; SE=13; p =.000). The relationship between sleep quality and depressive symptoms was moderated by frequency of water intake (B= -.186, SE =1.107; p= 0.11). Conclusion This study is among the first to examine the association between sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Latino adults, and to show that frequency of water intake may moderate this association in this population. Support This study was supported by funding from the NIH: R01 MH085653; 1U48DP006381; and T32HL129953.

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