Social Support Buffers the Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Life Satisfaction in Old Age

Overview

Journal Clin Gerontol

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2016 Jul 16

PMID 27418714

Citations 16

Authors

Tangeria R Adams

Laura A Rabin

Valdiva G Da Silva

Mindy J Katz

Joshua Fogel

Richard B Lipton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Life satisfaction is an important component of overall well-being. Decline in life satisfaction is related to many adverse health outcomes including mortality.

Methods: We investigate the association of various psychosocial and health-related factors to life satisfaction in 237 non-demented community-dwelling older adults.

Results: Lower levels of depressive symptoms, less perceived stress, higher levels of social support, and better self-perceived general health were significantly associated with higher life satisfaction. Social support buffered the adverse impact of depressive symptoms on life satisfaction where more depressive symptoms were associated with much lower life satisfaction at low levels of social support than at high levels of social support.

Discussion: We discuss study implications, future research directions, and possible interventions that involve boosting social support in at-risk older adults.

Citing Articles

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Depression symptoms are associated with demographic characteristics, nutritional status, and social support among young adults in Chile: a latent class analysis.

Carvajal F, Lerma-Cabrera J, de Leon P, Lopez-Arana S BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):2781.

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Impact of informal social support on the mental health of older adults.

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Rashid M, Dalal K, Khan M, Monisha U, Sagar S, Mishu T PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024; 4(8):e0003472.

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The relationship of intimate partner violence on depression: the mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating role of the Big Five personality.

Luo Z, Guan Y, Li Y, Xu W, Li L, Liu S Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1402378.

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