HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Travis, L. A. Articles by Cox, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Travis, L. A. Articles by Cox, C.

Social Support, Depression, and Functional Disability in Older Adult Primary-Care Patients

Received October 18, 2002; revised January 21, 2003; accepted February 12, 2004. From the Laboratory of Depression and Medical Comorbidity, Program in Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), Rochester, NY (LAT,JML,DAK); the Wynne Center for Family Research, Department of Psychiatry URMC (LAT,CGS); the Department of Family Medicine, URMC (CGS); the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, URMC (CC); and the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD (CC). Send correspondence to Jeffrey M. Lyness, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Boulevard, Rochester, NY 14642. e-mail: Jeffrey_Lyness{at}URMC.Rochester.edu
© 2004 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Objective: The authors asked whether social support and depression are independently associated with functional disability and examined the potential role of social support as a moderator in the depression–functional disability association. Methods: Subjects were 305 patients age 60 years and over. Predictor variables were social support, depressive symptoms, and depression diagnosis. Dependent variables were the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, the Physical Self-Maintenance Scale, and the Physical Functioning subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Authors used multiple-regression analyses. Results: Depressive symptoms and all dimensions of social support were independently associated with functional disability: the specifics of these relationships varied among types of social support and functional disability. Depression diagnosis was not independently associated with any functional disability measure. Social support (more instrumental help, more perceived satisfaction) moderated some depression diagnosis–functional disability associations, and one depressive symptom–functional disability association. Conclusions: The study hypotheses were partially confirmed. Different dimensions of social support have important and varied roles in the depression–functional disability dynamic. Future research is needed to further specify the complex relationships among depression, social support, and functional disability.

Key Words: Caregivers • Depression • Primary Care

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. L. Forman-Hoffman, K. K. Richardson, J. W. Yankey, S. L. Hillis, R. B. Wallace, and F. D. Wolinsky Impact of Functional Limitations and Medical Comorbidity on Subsequent Weight Changes and Increased Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults J Aging Health, June 1, 2008; 20(4): 367 - 384. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. L. Forman-Hoffman, J. W. Yankey, S. L. Hillis, R. B. Wallace, and F. D. Wolinsky Weight and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: Direction of Influence? J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., January 1, 2007; 62(1): S43 - S51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Sachs-Ericsson, C. Schatschneider, and D. G. Blazer Perception of unmet basic needs as a predictor of physical functioning among community-dwelling older adults. J Aging Health, December 1, 2006; 18(6): 852 - 868. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Schulz and T. L. Patterson Caregiving in Geriatric Psychiatry Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, June 1, 2004; 12(3): 234 - 237. [Full Text] [PDF]