Impact of social support and self-efficacy on functioning in depressed older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the association between social support, self-efficacy, and functioning among a sample of depressed older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
Participants were recruited immediately following admission to an acute pulmonary rehabilitation unit of a rehabilitation hospital. One hundred and fifty-six subjects completed assessments of depression, functioning, social support, and self-efficacy at admission to the rehabilitation unit. Regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of different aspects of social support and self-efficacy on overall functioning at admission.


RESULTS
Controlling for depression, COPD severity, and age, subjective social support (p = 0.05) and self-efficacy (p < 0.01) were associated with overall functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
The perception of social support as well as self-efficacy are important constructs related to overall functioning among depressed older adults with COPD. Attention to these psychosocial variables in health management interventions may help maintain or improve the overall functioning of depressed COPD patients.
Marino
Patricia
P
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 21 Bloomingdale Road,White Plains, NY 10605, USA. pam2029@med.cornell.edu
Sirey
Jo Anne
JA
Raue
Patrick J
PJ
Alexopoulos
George S
GS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support