What about African American Older Women and Depressive Symptoms?

TitleWhat about African American Older Women and Depressive Symptoms?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsBaldwin, TC, Vakalahi, HFOfaheng, Anderson, B
JournalEducational Gerontology
Volume42
Issue5
Pagination310-320
KeywordsAdult children, Health Conditions and Status, Women and Minorities
Abstract

Depression is a major problem among African American older women; however, they also tend to be understudied as members of a multiple minority and oppressed group. As matriarchs and grandmothers in their families and communities, depression often emerges and becomes a detrimental problem for these older African American women. This study, a secondary data analysis, utilized the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2010 database to examine depression among older African American women. This article discusses the joint impact of age, social support, religion, caregiving, and physical health on depression among older community dwelling African American women. Findings indicate that age, physical health, and marital status as an aspect of social support were significant predictors of whether or not an older African American woman had ever had depression and whether or not she felt depressed in the past year. Receiving help from relatives as an aspect of social support also remained significant for participants who were feeling depressed in the past year. Implications for research, theory, and policy are offered.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2015.1121749
DOI10.1080/03601277.2015.1121749
Endnote Keywords

African American/women/aging/depression/older community dwellers/Social Support

Endnote ID

999999

Citation Key8387