The roles of social support and self-efficacy in physical health's impact on depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults.
Physical illness may precipitate psychological distress among older adults. This study examines whether social support and self-efficacy moderate the associations between physical health and depression and anxiety. Predictions were tested in 222 individuals age 60 or older presenting for help with worry. Physical health was assessed through self-report (subjective) and physical diagnoses (objective). Objective physical health did not have a significant association with depression or anxiety. Worse subjective physical health was associated with increased somatic anxiety, but not with depression or worry. The relationship between subjective physical health and depressive symptoms was moderated by self-efficacy and social support. As predicted, when self-efficacy was low, physical health had its strongest negative association with depressive symptoms such that as physical health improved, depressive symptoms also improved. However, the moderation effect was not as expected for social support; at high levels of social support, worse physical health was associated with increased depressive affect.
Department of Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, 1660 South Columbian Way, Mail Stop: S-123-HBPC, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. Amber.Paukert@va.gov
Amber L
AL
Paukert
Jeremy W
JW
Pettit
Mark E
ME
Kunik
Nancy
N
Wilson
Diane M
DM
Novy
Howard M
HM
Rhoades
Anthony J
AJ
Greisinger
Oscar A
OA
Wehmanen
Melinda A
MA
Stanley
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology