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Abstract
Background
Depressive symptoms, chronic conditions, and functional limitations are common in older adults. Several studies have examined the relationship between chronic conditions or functional limitations and depressive symptoms separately. However, little is known about how much of the effect of chronic conditions on depressive symptoms is due to the functional limitations resulting from such conditions.
Methods
This paper examined the longitudinal association of chronic conditions and functional limitations with depressive symptoms in older adults aged 65 and over in the USA using the data from the 2012 wave and 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Mediation analysis was used to examine the mediation effects of 2012 functional limitations on the relationship between 2012 chronic conditions and 2014 depressive symptoms controlling for other measures including gender, age, race, education, marital status, and BMI.
Results
Results revealed that chronic conditions and functional limitations were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. There was a 13.7% mediation effect when 2012 functional limitations were added as a mediator on the relationship between 2012 chronic conditions and 2014 depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
Functional limitations mediate the relationship between chronic conditions and depressive symptoms. Preventing or managing functional limitations may help reduce depressive symptoms in older adults with chronic conditions.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Funding
The authors received no financial support for this research.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jyotsana Parajuli
All authors have made a substantial contribution to this paper. J.P. designed this study, conducted preliminary analysis, and wrote the manuscript. D.B. conducted the statistical analysis of this study and helped write the methods and results section. Y.-L.J. revised this manuscript with critical inputs and approved the final version.
Diane Berish
All authors have made a substantial contribution to this paper. J.P. designed this study, conducted preliminary analysis, and wrote the manuscript. D.B. conducted the statistical analysis of this study and helped write the methods and results section. Y.-L.J. revised this manuscript with critical inputs and approved the final version.
Ying-Ling Jao
All authors have made a substantial contribution to this paper. J.P. designed this study, conducted preliminary analysis, and wrote the manuscript. D.B. conducted the statistical analysis of this study and helped write the methods and results section. Y.-L.J. revised this manuscript with critical inputs and approved the final version.