title: THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN OLDER PERSONS: AN EXAMINATION OF INTERACTION PROCESSES IN AUSTRALIA.
abstract: Social support is proposed as a coping mechanism against anxiety and depression amongst older persons, but few data have examined how this occurs. This study assessed the contributions of two sub-components of social support as mediators against psychological distress-broadly defined as anxiety and depression. 1,560 men and 1,758 women from the Hunter Community Study (Australia) completed the Duke Social Support Scale and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The Duke Social Support Scale examined the amount of social interaction and satisfaction with social interactions. Significant mediating effects of social support were found in the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale items measuring depression but not anxiety. Satisfaction with social support was a significant predictor of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale total score and Sadness items, but the amount of social support was not a predictor of stress. Social support may assist with symptoms of depression, i.e., specific sadness/depressed mood, but not necessarily with anxiety. Implications for policy and service delivery were discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sharpley
authors.affiliation: 2 Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, and University of New England, Armidale.
authors.forename: Rafat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: 3 University of New England, Armidale.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wark
authors.affiliation: 4 University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mcevoy
authors.affiliation: 5 University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Attia
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*