The Relationship among Elderly Fall, Social Network, and Depressive Symptom: Focusing on the Stress Process Model

Background:Although physical activity (PA) has been demonstrated to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, research on the mental health benefits of PA in older adults is limited. Moreover, the psychosocial factors that might mediate or moderate the relationship between PA and depression in this population are largely unexplored.Methods:Using a sample of adults age 65 and older (N = 2736), we examined whether the major components of the stress process model (stress, social support, mastery, self-esteem) and physical health mediate or moderate the relationship between PA and depressive symptoms.Results:Physical health has the single largest effect, accounting for 45% of the effect of PA on depression. The stress process model, with physical health included, accounts for 70% of the relationship between PA and depression.Conclusions:Among older adults with above average levels of perceived mastery, greater physical activity is associated with higher levels of depression. Limitations and directions for further research are discussed.

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They Drive Me Crazy: Difficult Social Ties and Subjective Well-Being

Journal of Health and Social Behavior ◽

10.1177/0022146520952767 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 61 (4) ◽

pp. 418-436

Author(s):

Shira Offer

Keyword(s):

Adult Children ◽

Process Model ◽

Well Being ◽

The Other ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Stress Process Model ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

The University ◽

The Relationship

Using egocentric network data from the University of California Social Networks Study (1,136 respondents; 11,536 alters), this study examines how difficult ties—an unexplored form of social negativity—are associated with well-being. Findings show that well-being is affected by the quality of the relationship rather than its presence in the network. Having a nondifficult partner is associated with lower loneliness compared to having no partner, but having no partner and having a difficult partner are related to similar levels of loneliness. Likewise, having difficult adult children and having no adult children are associated with reporting greater psychological distress than having nondifficult adult children. Consistent with the stress process model, the negative association of a difficult partner with well-being is buffered when that partner is otherwise supportive and when the other ties in the network are supportive. However, that association is amplified when the other ties are also difficult.

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THE SOCIOCULTURAL STRESS PROCESS MODEL APPLIED TO LONG-DISTANCE CAREGIVING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S557-S557

Author(s):

Verena R Cimarolli ◽

Amy Horowitz ◽

Danielle Jimenez ◽

Xiaomei Shi ◽

Francesca Falzarano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Process Model ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Stress Process ◽

Stress Process Model ◽

Sociocultural Stress ◽

The Impact

Abstract This study investigated the impact of LDC on mental health utilizing the Sociocultural Stress Process Model as a conceptual framework. A path analytic model tested the impact of caregiving stressors (i.e. distance, frequencies of visits, hours spent helping, burden) and sociocultural values (i.e. familialism) on LDCs’ mental health outcomes (i.e. depression, anxiety), and resources (i.e. coping strategies, social support) which can mediate the association between stressors and mental health outcomes while controlling for socio-demographics. Results show that resources did not mediate the effects of stressors on the mental health outcomes. However, both higher depression and anxiety were associated with living closer to the care recipient (CR), less frequent visits, higher burden, being younger, being female, and less optimal income adequacy. In addition, higher depression was associated with lower use of coping strategies and higher education. Higher anxiety was also associated with lower levels of social support and higher familialism.

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