title: Functional capacity and dependency in transfer and dressing are associated with depressive symptoms in older people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined associations between depressive symptoms and functional capacity, overall dependency in personal activities of daily living (ADLs), and dependency in individual ADL tasks, respectively, in people with a high mean age, large range of functional capacity, and wide spectrum of dependency in ADLs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from three studies were used. A total of 392 individuals living in community and residential care facilities were included. Mean age was 86.2 years, 72% were women, 75% were dependent in ADLs, 42% had depression, and 39% had dementia. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), functional capacity with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and ADLs with the Barthel ADL Index. Multiple linear regression analyses with comprehensive adjustments were performed between GDS-15 and BBS, GDS-15 and Barthel ADL Index, and GDS-15 and each individual ADL task, separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GDS-15 score was associated with BBS score (unstandardized b =-0.03, P=0.008), but not with Barthel ADL Index score (unstandardized b =-0.07, P=0.068). No significant interaction effects of sex, dementia, or living conditions were found in these associations. Among individual ADL tasks, dependency in transfer (unstandardized b =-1.03, P=0.007) and dressing (unstandardized b =-0.70, P=0.035) were associated with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional capacity seems to be independently associated with depressive symptoms in older people living in community and residential care facilities, whereas overall ADL performance may not be associated. Dependency in the individual ADL tasks of transfer and dressing appear to be independently associated with depressive symptoms and may be an important focus of future interdisciplinary multifactorial intervention studies.
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Gustaf
authors: G
authors: Boström
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Mia
authors: M
authors: Conradsson
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ; Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Rosendahl
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Nordström
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Yngve
authors: Y
authors: Gustafson
authors: Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden ; Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Håkan
authors: H
authors: Littbrand
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
keywords: activities of daily living; aged 80 and over; depression; independent living; residential facilities