title: Social, health, and age differences associated with depressive disorders in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Depression in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be related to social role experiences, physical health, and age. The purpose of this study was to examine the social and health factors contributing to depression in two age groups of women with RA. One-hundred and thirty-eight midlife and late-life women with a diagnosis of RA participated in this cross sectional survey study. Multiple regression analysis indicated that social role balance, functional status, number of co-existing health problems, and age were significant predictors of depression in midlife and late-life women with RA. Role balance was the strongest factor contributing to a woman's depression score. Compared to midlife women, late-life women reported significantly higher role balance and lower depression scores, despite poorer functional status and more concomitant health problems.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. placs@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Sandra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Plach
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Napholz
authors.forename: Sheryl T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kelber
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D012931:Social Environment