Coping Resources and Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms Among Frail Older Ethnic Women

This study uses data from the 1982-84 National Long-Term Care Channeling Demonstration to model the additive and interactive effects of health-related and social stressors and coping resources on self-reported depressive symptoms of frail, elderly African American (n = 900) and Hispanic (n = 146) women. Older white women are included as a reference group. Results indicate that older African American women report fewer depressive symptoms than their white counterparts in the study and that symptom levels reported by older Hispanic and white women did not differ. Parallel regression analyses revealed that physical illnesses, perceptions of unmet need, and low sense of control were common predictors of depressive symptoms for all three groups and that there were also unique predictors for each group.