Strain, social support, and mental health in rural elderly individuals.

This study examined the relationships among social support, life strain, and mental health in a sample of 210 rural elderly individuals. Life strain was operationalized as economic deprivation, illness disability, and ADL impairment. Demographic characteristics had little effect on mental health. Physical health status was highly predictive of life satisfaction and psychological distress among rural elderly individuals. Disability associated with chronic illness and ADL impairment was related to increased reports of symptoms of emotional and psychosomatic distress. Measures of social contacts and instrumental support exerted small to moderate effects on life satisfaction, psychosomatic distress, and emotional distress. Affective support moderated the effects of health-related strain on mental health.