Social productivity and depressive symptoms in early old age-results from the GAZEL study.
OBJECTIVE
We test associations of frequency of performing three types of socially productive activities (voluntary work, informal help and caring for a person) with depressive symptoms in older people. Are depressive symptoms negatively associated with frequency in all three types or rather in those activities that are characterized by a high degree of autonomy and perceived control?


METHODS
Data on social activities and frequency of performance were collected in the frame of the annual follow-up of the French GAZEL cohort study in 2005. Depressive symptoms were measured by the CES-D scale. Perceived control was assessed by two items of a quality of life measure (CASP-19). Total of 14477 respondents aged 52-66 years completed a standardized questionnaire. Linear regression models were calculated adjusting for important confounders including self-rated health assessed during the previous year.


RESULTS
In activities characterized by high autonomy (in particular voluntary work) a negative association of frequency with depressive symptoms was observed, whereas the reverse effect was found in the type of activity with low autonomy (care for a person). Perceived control mediated in part the association of frequency of activity with depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Being often socially productive in early old age may contribute to well-being to the extent that autonomy and perceived control are given.
Wahrendorf
M
M
Department of Medical Sociology, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany. wahrendorf@uni-duesseldorf.de
Ribet
C
C
Zins
M
M
Siegrist
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*