title: Psychosocial predictors of mental health in a population of elderly women. Test of an explanatory model.
abstract: The understanding of adjustment to aging calls for models that illustrate the interaction of psychosocial and health factors. The authors surveyed a group of retired Catholic sisters, examining the contributions of psychosocial factors and religiousness to life satisfaction, psychological distress, and depression. Life satisfaction was best explained by a four-factor model that included mastery, social support, physical functioning, and religious commitment. General level of distress was best predicted by physical functioning, social support, and mastery, but not religiousness. Depression, on the other hand, was predicted by mastery, social support, and religious commitment. These data are consistent with a proposed model in which internal, external, and coping resources mediate the psychological impact of impaired functional status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton OH 45401-0927, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bienenfeld
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sherrill
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002410:Catholicism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment