An age difference view of depression.

Abstract

This paper presents evidence that supports an age difference view of depression. Two aspects of depression are reviewed and indicate that: (1) depression is qualitatively different in older compared to younger adults; and (2) depression in old age is influenced more strongly by poor physical health than other predictors, whereas among younger adults, poor physical health has a relatively weaker influence on depression compared to social support or stressful life events. Explanations for these age differences are presented and an age difference model of depression is described. Suggestions are made for future research and an intervention strategy is proposed based upon a health psychology perspective.

Executive Function Deficits, Rumination and Late-Onset Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

“…Step (Fiske, Kasl-Godley, & Gatz, 1998;McNeil & Harsany, 1989;Zemore & Eames, 1979). When the regression analysis was repeated on the cognitive-affective symptom index, the pattern of results was very similar to that observed for the depressive symptom composite.…”

Subjective health in old age from a salutogenic perspective

“…Knoll, Rieckmann, Scholz, & Schwarzer, 2004), and depression and poor physical health in old age were strongly connected, supposedly because biological reserves decrease (e.g. McNeil & Harsany, 1989). Finally, the only significant motivational resource was an internal locus of control.…”

Age Differences in Mood: Structure, Mean Level, and Diurnal Variation

“…Although age differences have been identified for affective states of longer duration than mood, such as stress (Folkman, Lazarus, Pimley, & Novacek, 1987), depression (McNeil & Harsany, 1989), and subjective well-being (Liang, Van Tran, & Markides, 1988;Stacey & Gatz, 1991), no research has investigated age differences in mood. One explanation for this lack of research is that no mood scale exists which has been developed on all adult ages.…”