Different dimensions of social support differentially predict psychological well-being in late life: opposite effects of perceived emotional support and marital status on symptoms of anxiety and of depression in older outpatients in Italy.
ageing
anxiety
depression
marital status
mental health
social support
Journal
Psychogeriatrics : the official journal of the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society
ISSN: 1479-8301
Titre abrégé: Psychogeriatrics
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101230058
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2021
Jan 2021
Historique:
received:
03
06
2020
revised:
12
10
2020
accepted:
28
10
2020
pubmed:
25
11
2020
medline:
5
2
2021
entrez:
24
11
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Social support is important to psychological well-being in late life. However, findings in the literature regarding its effects are mixed, less information is available for anxiety than for depressive symptoms, and few studies have been carried out in Italy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of social support on symptoms of anxiety and of depression in a sample of geriatric outpatients in Italy. This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 299 outpatients without dementia (age ≥ 65, all neuropsychologically tested). Social support was assessed with the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument and by interview. Symptoms of anxiety and of depression were evaluated with short versions of the State-Trait Personality Inventory Trait Anxiety and Geriatric Depression scales. The relationship between social support and psychological well-being was examined by multiple linear regression models with socio-demographic and clinical variables, including cognitive performance, as potential confounders. Perceived emotional support was a negative predictor of symptoms of anxiety (standardised beta coefficient (β) -0.288, standard error (SE) 0.074, P < 0.001) and symptoms of depression (β -0.196, SE 0.040, P < 0.001). On the contrary, marital status (i.e. being married) was a positive predictor of symptoms of anxiety (β 0.199, SE 0.728, P = 0.003) and symptoms of depression (β 0.142, SE 0.384, P = 0.035). Different dimensions of social support differentially affect psychological well-being. The protective effect of perceived emotional support is consistent with social cognitive models of health. The harmful effect of being married may be capturing the distress of the pre-bereavement period. Alternatively, it may reflect oppression by gender roles within marriage in a predominantly female sample in a traditional society. Our findings provide insight into the relationship between social support and psychological well-being, and identify potential targets for psychosocial interventions promoting mental health in late life.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Social support is important to psychological well-being in late life. However, findings in the literature regarding its effects are mixed, less information is available for anxiety than for depressive symptoms, and few studies have been carried out in Italy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of social support on symptoms of anxiety and of depression in a sample of geriatric outpatients in Italy.
METHODS
METHODS
This cross-sectional study consecutively enrolled 299 outpatients without dementia (age ≥ 65, all neuropsychologically tested). Social support was assessed with the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument and by interview. Symptoms of anxiety and of depression were evaluated with short versions of the State-Trait Personality Inventory Trait Anxiety and Geriatric Depression scales. The relationship between social support and psychological well-being was examined by multiple linear regression models with socio-demographic and clinical variables, including cognitive performance, as potential confounders.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Perceived emotional support was a negative predictor of symptoms of anxiety (standardised beta coefficient (β) -0.288, standard error (SE) 0.074, P < 0.001) and symptoms of depression (β -0.196, SE 0.040, P < 0.001). On the contrary, marital status (i.e. being married) was a positive predictor of symptoms of anxiety (β 0.199, SE 0.728, P = 0.003) and symptoms of depression (β 0.142, SE 0.384, P = 0.035).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Different dimensions of social support differentially affect psychological well-being. The protective effect of perceived emotional support is consistent with social cognitive models of health. The harmful effect of being married may be capturing the distress of the pre-bereavement period. Alternatively, it may reflect oppression by gender roles within marriage in a predominantly female sample in a traditional society. Our findings provide insight into the relationship between social support and psychological well-being, and identify potential targets for psychosocial interventions promoting mental health in late life.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
42-53Informations de copyright
© 2020 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.
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