Lifestyle regularity and activity level as protective factors against bereavement‐related depression in late‐life

Abstract This study sought to determine whether high regularity in the timing of daily activities among the elderly soon after spousal death was protective against depressive symptomatology 1 and 2 years later, and the degree to which the depression‐buffering effects of high lifestyle regularity were contingent upon the level of activity performed. The regularity of daily activities was assessed at 3 months post‐loss among 41 spousally bereaved subjects aged 60 and above; depressive symptomatology was measured at 3, 12, and 24 months post‐loss. Multiple regression analyses revealed that greater lifestyle regularity at 3 months post‐loss predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms at 1 year post‐loss among those in the upper‐half level of activity. There was a trend, which suggested that greater lifestyle regularity at 3 months post‐loss was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms at 24 months post‐loss among those in the upper‐third level of activity. These preliminary results suggest that for aged widows and widowers, lifestyle regularity may prevent long‐lasting depressive symptomatology secondary to spousal bereavement, provided an adequate number of activities are performed. Depression 3:297–302 (1995/1996). © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.