Guro Hanevold Bjørkløf1,2,3, Knut Engedal1, Geir Selbæk1,4,5, Deborah Bezerra Maia6, Evandro Silvia Freire Coutinho6, Anne-Sofie Helvik1,7,8. 1. a Ageing and Health, Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development , Vestfold Hospital Trust , Tønsberg , Norway. 2. b Department for Mental Health Research and Development, Division for Mental health and Addiction , Vestre Viken Hospital Trust , Lier , Norway. 3. c Faculty of Medicine , University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway. 4. d Research Center of Old Age Psychiatry , Innlandet Hospital Trust , Ottestad , Norway. 5. e Akershus University Hospital , Lørenskog , Norway. 6. f National School of Public Health, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (ENSP-FIOCRUZ) , Rio , Brazil. 7. g Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , Trondheim , Norway. 8. h St Olav's University Hospital , Trondheim , Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 144 depressed in-patients from seven psychogeriatric hospital units, and 106 community-dwelling older persons without depression. All participants were 60 years and older. Locus of control was assessed by a 17-items self-report questionnaire with six response categories. Coping strategies were assessed by a 26-items self-report questionnaire with five response categories. For analytical purposes, age (<75 years vs. ≥75 years), level of education (<10 years vs. ≥10 years) and general medical health (poor vs. not poor) were categorized. RESULTS: In linear regression analysis, controlling for demographics, health, and social variables, the depressed in-patients showed a higher external locus of control orientation and a less frequent use of problem-focused coping strategies compared with the non-depressed group. No differences in use of emotion-focused strategies were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with the non-depressed old persons, the depressed hospitalized older persons were characterized by perceptions of less personal control, and less use of problem-focused strategies, what also might have brought positive alterations into their situation.
OBJECTIVES: To compare locus of control and coping strategies in older persons with and without depression. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 144 depressed in-patients from seven psychogeriatric hospital units, and 106 community-dwelling older persons without depression. All participants were 60 years and older. Locus of control was assessed by a 17-items self-report questionnaire with six response categories. Coping strategies were assessed by a 26-items self-report questionnaire with five response categories. For analytical purposes, age (<75 years vs. ≥75 years), level of education (<10 years vs. ≥10 years) and general medical health (poor vs. not poor) were categorized. RESULTS: In linear regression analysis, controlling for demographics, health, and social variables, the depressed in-patients showed a higher external locus of control orientation and a less frequent use of problem-focused coping strategies compared with the non-depressed group. No differences in use of emotion-focused strategies were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with the non-depressed old persons, the depressed hospitalized older persons were characterized by perceptions of less personal control, and less use of problem-focused strategies, what also might have brought positive alterations into their situation.
Entities:
Keywords:
coping strategies; depression; locus of control; older persons
Authors: I M Maaswinkel; H P A van der Aa; G H M B van Rens; A T F Beekman; J W R Twisk; R M A van Nispen Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2020-09-24 Impact factor: 3.630