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2020 Conference

May 18–20, 2020

Proposal authors can use this tool to see where they have been placed in the agenda for a Symposium, an Oral Session, or a Featured Research Session Poster.

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B3a Aging Alone and Depression in Later Life: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Financial Security and Social Support

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 11:00 AM–12:30 PM CDT
Room 3
Key Words

depressive symptoms, aging alone, isolation, loneliness, financial security, social support, Health and Retirement Study

Short Description

Aging is accompanied by many changes in life such as changes in finances and decreasing social networks, which can put some older adults at risk for late-life depression. The present study draws on conservation of resources theory and transactional stress theory to guide our understanding of how social network size, social support, and financial security serve as a balance of both risk and protection for late-life depression among older Americans using a nationally representative existing dataset, the Health and Retirement Study. A path analysis via structural equation modeling was conducted that included objective (i.e., objective isolation, objective financial status) and subjective perspectives (i.e., perceived financial security, perceived social isolation, perceived social support) simultaneously. Results demonstrated that both risk and protective factors mediated the relationship between aging alone and depression. Further, the relationship between aging alone and depression was mediated by both objective and subjective factors. Moreover, the significant mediation model was still remained significant after taking potential confounding factors (e.g., self-rated health status, gender, and educational attainment) into account. This study underscores the importance of investigating the balance between risk and protection for mental health, particularly depression, in the rising number of older adults aging alone in society.

First & Corresponding Author

Shinae Choi, University of Alabama
Authors in the order to be printed

Shinae Choi, Jaimie Choi, Ian McDonough, Zhehan Jiang

Additional Authors

Jaimie Choi, University of Alabama
Ian McDonough, University of Alabama
Zhehan Jiang, University of Alabama
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