title: Correlates of depression in self-neglecting older adults: A cross-sectional study examining the role of alcohol abuse and pain in increasing vulnerability.
abstract: Self-neglect among older adults results in increased morbidity and mortality rates. Depression is strongly linked to self-neglect and when untreated, severely complicates management of health and functional outcomes. The study aims to identify factors correlated with depression to inform approaches to service recruitment and retention that improve long-term outcomes. The sample included urban community-dwelling older adults (n = 96) 65 years of age and older with Adult Protective Services-substantiated self-neglect. All participants completed a range of validated cognitive, functional, and self-report demographic and clinical measures around health and mental health functioning. A secondary data analysis using multivariable logistic regression revealed that a positive screen for alcohol abuse, low self-rated health, and higher self-reported pain were associated with significantly higher odds of self-reported depression. Further research is needed to understand the temporality between these correlates and depression and to inform prevention and intervention practices for self-neglecting older adults.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , California State University, Long Beach , Long Beach , California , USA.|b Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment (TEAM) Institute , Houston , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Marissa C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: b Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment (TEAM) Institute , Houston , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: b Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment (TEAM) Institute , Houston , Texas , USA.|c Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , Texas , USA.|d Harris Health System , Houston , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coverdale
authors.affiliation: b Texas Elder Abuse and Mistreatment (TEAM) Institute , Houston , Texas , USA.|d Harris Health System , Houston , Texas , USA.|e Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine , UTHealth , Houston , Texas , USA.|f Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health , UTHealth , Houston , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burnett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Adult protective services; depression; self-neglect; vulnerable elders