title: Older people coping with low mood: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To gain new insight into support for older people with low mood, the perceptions, strategies, and needs of older people with depressive symptoms were explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two in-depth interviews were held with 38 participants (aged ≥77 years) who screened positive for depressive symptoms in general practice. To investigate the influence of the presence of complex health problems, 19 persons with and 19 without complex problems were included. Complex problems were defined as a combination of functional, somatic, psychological or social problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants used several cognitive, social or practical coping strategies. Four patterns emerged: mastery, acceptance, ambivalence, and need for support. Most participants felt they could deal with their feelings sufficiently, whereas a few participants with complex problems expressed a need for professional support. Some participants, especially those with complex problems, were ambivalent about possible interventions mainly because they feared putting their fragile balance at risk due to changes instigated by an intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most older participants with depressive symptoms perceived their coping strategies to be sufficient. The general practitioners (GPs) can support self-management by talking about the (effectiveness of) personal coping strategies, elaborating on perceptions of risks, providing information, and discussing alternative options with older persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care,Leiden University Medical Center,PO Box 9600,2300 RC Leiden,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Faber
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care,Leiden University Medical Center,PO Box 9600,2300 RC Leiden,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geertje
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Geest
authors.affiliation: Department of Guideline Development and Research,Dutch College of General Practitioners,PO Box 3231,3502 GE Utrecht,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerda M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: van der Weele
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care,Leiden University Medical Center,PO Box 9600,2300 RC Leiden,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeanet W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,Leiden University Medical Center PO Box 9600,2300 RC Leiden,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roos C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: van der Mast
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care,Leiden University Medical Center,PO Box 9600,2300 RC Leiden,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care,Leiden University Medical Center,PO Box 9600,2300 RC Leiden,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacobijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gussekloo
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: coping; depressive symptoms; older adults; qualitative research; the Netherlands