Comparison of depression in the community-dwelling and assisted-living elderly.

Depressive affect in assisted living (n = 351) and community dwelling (n = 102) elderly was compared by means of the state and trait forms of Set 1 of the Depression Adjective Check Lists (DACL). Four separate analyses of covariance (age as covariate) showed the main effects of living arrangement and form to be significant on each of the four lists. Assisted living and the state form were significantly higher. Sex was not significant on any of the lists, and none of the two-way and three-way interactions reached significance. Implications of the findings for program planning for the elderly in assisted living arrangements are discussed.