Cognitive style and depressive symptoms in elderly people – Extending the empirical evidence for the cognitive vulnerability–stress hypothesis

Abstract

IntroductionDepression is common in older people and its identification and treatment has been highlighted as one of the major challenges in an ageing world. Poor physical and cognitive health, bereavement, and prior depression are important risk factors for depression in elderly people. Attributional or cognitive style has been identified as a risk factor for depression in children, adolescents and younger adults but its relevance for depression and mood in elderly people has not been investigated in the context of other risk factors. MethodSixty-four older adults from an ‘extra care’ living scheme (aged 59–97) were recruited for a 6-week prospective study to examine the relationships between cognitive style and depressive symptoms. ResultsRegression analyses revealed that, when other risk factors were controlled for, cognitive style and its interaction with stress predicted changes in depressive symptoms, therefore partially replicating prior research. ConclusionCognitive-stress–vulnerability models also apply to elderly populations, but may be rather predictive of changes in depression when facing lower levels of stress.