title: Changes in depressive symptoms in the context of disablement processes: role of demographic characteristics, cognitive function, health, and social support.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gerontological research suggests that depressive symptoms show antecedent and consequent relations with late-life disability. Less is known, however, about how depressive symptoms change with the progression of disability-related processes and what factors moderate such changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied multiphase growth models to longitudinal data pooled across 4 Swedish studies of very old age (N = 779, M age = 86 years at disability onset, 64% women) to describe change in depressive symptoms prior to disability onset, at or around disability onset (the measurement wave at which assistance in personal activities of daily living was first recorded), and postdisability onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicate that, on average, depressive symptoms slightly increase with approaching disability, increase at onset, and decline in the postdisability phase. Age, study membership, being a woman, and multimorbidity were related to depressive symptoms, but social support emerged as the most powerful predictor of level and change in depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings are consistent with conceptual notions implicating disability-related factors as key contributors to late-life change and suggest that contextual and psychosocial factors play a pivotal role for how well people adapt to late-life challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-2905, USA. beth.fauth@usu.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fauth
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerstorf
authors.forename: Nilam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malmberg
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors