Medical and Social Factors Associated with Psychological Distress in a Sample of Community Aged

Abstract

Two hundred persons over 80 in two urban communities were interviewed. Of those interviewed, 21% evidenced psychological impairment as defined by the presence of at least one of the following self-report symptoms: 1) depression; 2) periods of inability to function; 3) suicidal ideation; 4) alcohol problems and 5) use of psychotropic medication. A profile of the psychologically impaired group compared to the psychologically healthy showed that accidents (mostly falls), eye problems and few social contacts were significantly associated with impairment. Approximately 75% had some restrictions on activity due to physical health problems. Social isolation was marked: 54% either had no children or saw them less than once a month; 38% visited with close friends or relatives less than once a month; 19% were rated as having very little or no social support; and 23% socialized beyond the household less than once a week. Social interaction was the strongest predictor of psychological wellbeing (Affect Balance Scale) in a multiple regression analysis that included physical health and socioeconomic variables. Questions about service needs and utilization indicated unmet needs in the areas of transportation, house maintenance, medical services, and a regular visiting service.

Health and Social Support of Older Adults in the Community

“…A more useful direction for research, which has largely been ignored, is the direct independent effect of social support on health. In fact, some recent studies have found a direct relationship between social support and well-being, irrespective of the presence of stressful life events (Andrews, Tennant, Hewson & Vaillant, 1978;Lin, Ensel, Simeone & Kuo, 1979;Luke, Norton & Denbigh, 1981). Given the present inability of researchers to thoroughly explain the nature of the relationship, a descriptive exploratory design was employed to examine the direct relationship between selected older persons' social support and health in order to identify specific attributes of support which are related to healthy functioning.…”

Psychological distress among inner-city american elderly: Structural, developmental, and situational contexts

“…Studies have consistently found that distress or lowered well-being among older people is associated with poor physical status, economic problems and social isolation (Arling 1987;Luke, Norton and Denbigh 1981;Romaniuk, McAuley and Arling 1983). While those with poor health status and impaired functioning on their activities of daily living are the most likely to have lowered mood states, women, whites, the less educated and those living alone are also more often affected (Arling 1987).…”

“…While those with poor health status and impaired functioning on their activities of daily living are the most likely to have lowered mood states, women, whites, the less educated and those living alone are also more often affected (Arling 1987). A small proportion of older people (2% to 3%) have been diagnosed as having severe depression (Blazer, Hughes and George 1987;Gudand 1976;Luke, Norton and Denbigh 1981), although higher proportions report depressive symptoms (Link and Dohrenwend 1980).…”

Community Severance and Health: What Do We Actually Know?

“…31 In Huddersfield, UK, although fewer than 10% of respondents overall avoided activities because of a reluctance to cross the main road, this increased significantly with age, despite almost three fifths of these individuals reporting themselves to be fully mobile. 36 Impact of traffic on social networks Many cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have found evidence of a relationship between social network quality and indicators of poor health, [17][18][19][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] mortality, 14,[20][21][22][23][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] and negative health behaviors more generally. 15,16,[54][55][56] These studies have assessed social network quality in a number of different ways, which would find support in theories of community severance, including the following: numbers of close relationships with friends, acquaintances, relatives, and/or neighbours;…”