title: The relationship of age-related factors to psychological functioning among people with disabilities.
abstract: The potential influence of age and aging on the psychological functioning of people with disabilities is surprisingly complex. In people with spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, depression is highly prevalent. The limited research in this area indicates that older age and greater time span since disability onset may be associated with less self-reported depressive symptoms. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) and benefit finding (BF) are also common in people with disabilities. Older age tends to be associated with less BF and PTG. Studies that use longitudinal designs and examine multiple age-related factors simultaneously are needed. Potential mediators of age-related effects, such as historical trends, life-cycle events, maturity, and declining health, also need to be examined. There are many interesting theoretic and empiric concepts from aging research that can inform future research on the psychological aspects of aging with disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, 325 9th Avenue, Box 359612, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bombardier
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ehde
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stoelb
authors.forename: Ivan R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Molton
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation