Moderating Effects of Community Social Capital on Depression in Later Years of Life: A Latent Interaction Model

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study tested the stress-buffering model and examined the buffering role of community social capital on late-life depression.

Methods: This study used the data from the second wave of National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP, 2010–2012). In the present study, a total of 2,362 older adults aged 65 and older (Mage = 74.5, SD = 6.69) were included. Latent moderated structural equations model was tested by comparing the main effect model and interaction model. Depression, stress, and community social capital were constructed as latent variables for the analyses.

Results: The main effect model was acceptable: χ² (df = 334) = 1596.4, p = .000; RMSEA = .04 (.038 - .042); CFI = .91; and SRMR = .05. And interaction model was significant (D = 35.0, p < .001). The latent constructs of stress (β = . 50, p < .001) and community social capital (β = −.14, p < .001) not only had a direct effect on depression, but their interaction was also significant (β = −.21, p < .01).). The group with a high level of social capital presented a relatively stable slope in the prediction of stress on depression, suggesting their resilience, while the group with a low level of community social capital demonstrated a steep slope, indicating heighten vulnerability to depression when faced with stress.

Conclusions: The findings support the hypothesis of stress buffering model and identify the protective effects of community social capital on depression of older adults.

Clinical Implications: Older adults with lower community social capital are particularly vulnerable to depression. The results highlight that practitioners and policymakers should pay more attention to finding ways to enhance community resources to improve older adults’ mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• Community social capital
• depression
• latent interaction model
• stress

Clinical Implications

Older adults may benefit from practitioner referrals to community-based services (e.g., adult day care, support groups for older adults) to protect against adverse mental health effects.

Further exploration, development, and implementation of community-based activities in neighborhoods is critical to protecting older adults from social isolation.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.