Locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression

Abstract

Objectives: To compare locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 144 depressed in-patients from seven psychogeriatric hospital units, and 106 community-dwelling older persons without depression. All participants were 60 years and older. Locus of control was assessed by a 17-items self-report questionnaire with six response categories. Coping strategies were assessed by a 26-items self-report questionnaire with five response categories. For analytical purposes, age (<75 years vs. ≥75 years), level of education (<10 years vs. ≥10 years) and general medical health (poor vs. not poor) were categorized.

Results: In linear regression analysis, controlling for demographics, health, and social variables, the depressed in-patients showed a higher external locus of control orientation and a less frequent use of problem-focused coping strategies compared with the non-depressed group. No differences in use of emotion-focused strategies were found between the two groups.

Conclusion: Compared with the non-depressed old persons, the depressed hospitalized older persons were characterized by perceptions of less personal control, and less use of problem-focused strategies, what also might have brought positive alterations into their situation.

Keywords:

• depression
• locus of control
• coping strategies
• older persons

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the seven participating hospitals: Oslo University Hospital, Ullevaal and Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, Innlandet Hospital Trust (Sanderud and Reinsvoll), St. Olav's University Hospital (Østmarka), Akershus University Hospital, Stavanger psychiatric University Hospital, Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen and Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Psychiatric Department, in Lier for important contributions to the data collection. We also thank librarians Eva Arnfinsen and Vigdis S. Knutsen at Ageing and Health, Vestfold Hospital, and Linda Merete Warhuus at Vestre Viken Hospital Trust for literature search. E.S.F. Coutinho was partially supported by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and D.B. Maia was supported by Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation of Research Support in Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) (2012.4065.3).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

E.S.F. Coutinho was partially supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and D.B. Maia was supported by Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation of Research Support in Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) [2012.4065.3].