Centre for Policy on Ageing
 

 

Personal meaning, optimism, and choice:
 — existential predictors of depression in community and institutional elderly
Author(s)Gary T Reker
Journal titleThe Gerontologist, vol 37, no 6, December 1997
Pagespp 709-716
KeywordsDepression ; Living in the community ; Care homes ; Nursing homes ; Attitude ; Self esteem ; Health [elderly] ; Informal care ; United States of America.
AnnotationThe psychosocial model of mental health posits that late-life depression arises from the loss of self-esteem, loss of meaningful roles, loss of significant others, and diminished social contacts. This study examined the unique, combined, and interactive contribution of existential variables (personal meaning, choice/responsibleness, optimism) and traditional measures ( social resources, physical health) as predictors of depression in institutionalised and community-dwelling older people. Using multiple hierarchical regression, the results showed that choice/responsibleness, social resources and physical health predicted depression in older people living in the community; personal meaning, optimism, social resources, and physical health predicted depression in institutionalised older individuals. In both samples, the existential variables accounted for unique variance in depression over and above that accounted for by traditional measures. The important role of existential constructs in transcending personal and social losses and feelings of depression are discussed.
Accession NumberCPA-980309401 A
ClassmarkENR: K4: KW: LHB: DP: DPA: CC: P6: 7T

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