title: Depression as an explanation for decreased subjective time in the elderly.
abstract: This study focuses on the occurrence of depression in the elderly as an explanation for conflicting findings regarding subjective time in this age group. Subjects were volunteers from a congregate meal program in central Pennsylvania. The sample (N = 68) was restricted to women over 65 years of age. Depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Subjective time was determined by having the subject give a production estimate of an interval of 40 seconds. Analysis of data, which showed a correlation coefficient of 0.35 (p less than .002) between depression and subjective time, supports the hypothesis that depression is related to decreased subjective time. The finding provides a tentative explanation for deviations from the demonstrated trend toward increased subjective time with aging.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D013998:Time Perception