Perceived emotional social support in bereaved spouses mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression

Abstract

Background Prior research has shown that anxiety symptoms predict later depression symptoms following bereavement. Nevertheless, no research has investigated mechanisms of the temporal relationship between anxiety and later depressive symptoms or examined the impact of depressive symptoms on later anxiety symptoms following bereavement. Methods The current study examined perceived emotional social support as a possible mediator between anxiety and depressive symptoms in a bereaved sample of older adults (N = 250). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured at Wave 1 (immediately after bereavement), social support was measured at Wave 2 (18 months after bereavement), and anxiety and depressive symptoms were also measured at Wave 3 (48 months after bereavement). Results Using Bayesian structural equation models, when controlling for baseline depression, anxiety symptoms significantly positively predicted depressive symptoms 48 months later, Further, perceived emotional social support significantly mediated the relationship between anxiety symptoms and later depressive symptoms, such that anxiety symptoms significantly negatively predicted later emotional social support, and emotional social support significantly negatively predicted later depressive symptoms. Also, when controlling for baseline anxiety, depressive symptoms positively predicted anxiety symptoms 48 months later. However, low emotional social support failed to mediate this relationship. Conclusions Low perceived emotional social support may be a mechanism by which anxiety symptoms predict depressive symptoms 48 months later for bereaved individuals.

Anxiety, depression, loneliness and social network in the elderly: Longitudinal associations from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

“…Relational factors such as mechanisms of these asssociations have been found taking GAD or anxiety symptoms as predictive of depression. For example, low perceived emotional social support have been found to be mediator in the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms 48 months later for bereaved individuals (Jacobson, et al, 2017b), interpersonal oversensitivity and social chronic stress have been found as mediating the relationship between GAD before age 15 and later depression (Starr et al, 2014), and perceptions of not being accepted or loved were found to significantly mediate the relationship between adolescent anxiety and clinical depression in adulthood (Jacobson & Newman, 2016). However, no prior research has examined the mechanism of this relationship in an older adult population.…”

Peran Dukungan Sosial Keluarga terhadap Berduka Kronis pada Lansia yang Mengalami Kehilangan Pasangan dalam Budaya Pakurenan

“…Dukungan sosial emosional dapat memediasi antara gejala kecemasan dan gejala depresi pada lansia yang telah kehilangan pasangan (Davies, Crowe, & Whitehead, 2016;Jacobson, Lord, & Newman, 2017). Dukungan sosial penting untuk diberikan dalam mekanisme pemulihan ketika kematian pasangan (van Baarsen, 2002).…”

“…Hasil ini sesuai dengan penelitian sebelumnya yang menunjukkan bahwa dukungan sosial sangat mempengaruhi situasi setelah kehilangan pasangan di masa tua. Dukungan sosial emosional dapat memediasi antara gejala kecemasan dan gejala depresi pada orang tua yang telah kehilangan pasangan (Davies et al, 2016;Jacobson et al, 2017). Dukungan sosial penting untuk diberikan dalam mekanisme pemulihan ketika kematian pasangan (van Baarsen, 2002).…”

Spiritual reminiscence therapy for older people with loneliness, anxiety and depression living in a residential aged care facility, Malaysia: The effectiveness and older people’s experiences

“…These findings indicate the acceptability of the program contents and structure to these participants. Previous studies have indicated that older people with loneliness, anxiety and depression can find it difficult to enjoy activities and tend to socially withdraw (Cruwys et al, 2014;Jacobson et al, 2017). Conversely, these findings suggest that for this sample, the SRT program gave enjoyment and facilitated social interaction and emotional connection.…”

“…More recently, a study involving 250 older people in the United States of America found that anxiety positively predicted depression (B =0.331, CI =0.004−0.682, d=0.271), especially within 48 months of bereavement (Jacobson, Lord, & Newman, 2017). Altogether, these studies provide good evidence of an association between loneliness and depression, loneliness and anxiety, and anxiety and depression among older people.…”