A structural analysis of relationships among stress, social support, dysfunctional attitudes, and depression in older adults

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Darryl Ann Hyers (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
William W. Purkey

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate hypothesized relationships among stress, social support, dysfunctional attitudes, and depression in older persons. This was done by testing a structural path model that represents hypothesized structural relationships among these variables. The data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire containing the Geriatric Scale of Recent Life Events, two scales from the Duke Social Support Index, the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale-Form A, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, and a section for demographic information. The sample surveyed was composed of 359 female and male older (55-93) adults residing in an urban community in the southeastern United States. Statistics were provided to describe the sample and the performance of this sample of older persons on each of the instruments. The structural path analysis revealed that (1) perceived stress predicts symptoms of depression, (2) subjectively-perceived social support moderates symptoms of depression, and (3) heightened dysfunctional thoughts are associated with heightened depression.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 1995
Subjects
Depression in old age
Older people $x Psychology
Older people $x Attitudes
Social networks $x Psychological aspects
Stress in old age

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