Abstract
Objective: The study examined the relationship of self-rated health and self-rated economic situation with depressed mood, and life satisfaction as mediator of this relationship among older adults in Costa Rica. Method: A longitudinal study was conducted with a subsample (N = 1,618) from the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES). Self-rated health, self-rated economic situation, depressed mood, and life satisfaction were measured at baseline, and depressed mood was reassessed 18 months later. Putative mechanisms for changes in depressed mood were examined by means of conditional process analysis. Results: Self-rated health was negatively associated to depressed mood. This effect took place via life satisfaction. An interaction showed that better economic situation compensated the effect of a low self-rated health on life satisfaction. Discussion: This study suggests that subjective variables such as self-rated health, economic situation, and life satisfaction should be considered when addressing the onset of depressed mood.
Highlights
Depression is a mental health disorder, but it is a major public health problem affecting the population in many different ways
If depression is so relevant, how can it be better understood? Which factors may contribute to understand the onset of depression? In the present study, we examine how factors such as self-rated health, self-rated economic situation, and life satisfaction have an effect on the depressed mood in older adults in Costa Rica
T1 self-rated economic situation was positively associated with T1 life satisfaction and negatively with both T1 and T2 depressed mood
Summary
Depression is a mental health disorder, but it is a major public health problem affecting the population in many different ways. It is often associated to chronic medical diseases and can worsen their health outcome (Jakkula et al, 2008; Koivumaa-Honkanen et al, 2001; Soronen et al, 2008). Major depression is one of the leading causes of disease burden worldwide, and its impact is expected to grow (World Health Organization [WHO], 2008). Understanding how several risk factors antecede and play a role in the onset of depression is a key step for the formulation of adequate health policies. At the population level, depressive mood should be the focus of attention, as only a minority of depressive subjects is being diagnosed in health care (Wittchen et al, 2011)
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