title: Social support as a moderator of functional disability's effect on depressive feelings in early rheumatoid arthritis: a four-year prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations of depressive feelings with disease-related variables and explore the moderating effect of social support on depressive feelings in individuals with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prospectively over 4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected annually over 4 years. The sample consisted of 124 individuals with diagnosed RA (85.5% women; mean age 47.9 years; mean disease duration 22.2 months). The strength of cross-sectional and prospective associations of sociodemographic, disease-related variables and the direct and moderating effects of social support on depression were tested using correlations, multilevel models, and hierarchical linear regressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that emotional support moderated the influence of functional disability on depressive feelings in individuals with RA. This was not detected for instrumental support. Further prospective associations between functional status, marital status, and depressive feelings were also found. Overall, the strongest association was found between initial depressive feelings and depressive feelings over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial depression seemed to be a risk factor in explaining later depressive feelings, but emotional support might be prospectively beneficial, especially for individuals with higher levels of disability. Early detection of individuals at risk for depression and providing interventions aimed at the specific functions of social support might help to decrease mental health problems.
authors: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health.
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Benka
authors: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health.
authors: Iveta
authors: 0000-0002-9528-5234
authors: I
authors: Nagyova
authors: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health.
authors: Jaroslav
authors: 0000-0001-7201-889X
authors: J
authors: Rosenberger
authors: 1st Internal Clinic.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Calfova
authors: 1st Internal Clinic.
authors: Zelmira
authors: Z
authors: Macejova
authors: 1st Internal Clinic.
authors: Ivica
authors: I
authors: Lazurova
authors: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health.
authors: Jitse P
authors: JP
authors: van Dijk
authors: Department of Community & Occupational Health.
authors: Johan W
authors: JW
authors: Groothoff
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018154:Slovakia; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult