Journal article
Possible selves and depressive symptoms in later life
Research on aging, Vol.37(1), pp.41-62
01/2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/115760
PMID: 25651550
Abstract
The pursuit of personal goals has been linked to general psychological well-being; however, less is known about the association with depression in later adulthood when individuals are contending with age-related changes in health and social relationships. We explored the connection between both health- and social related goals (as measured by possible selves) and depressive symptoms in a sample of 85 community-dwelling older adults who ranged in age from 60 to 92 (M = 74, standard deviation = 7.5). Participants took part in face-to-face, semistructured interviews in which they responded to measures of possible selves (future images of oneself), health, and depressive symptoms. We found that the presence of health-related, but not social-related, possible selves was significantly associated with fewer reported depressive symptoms. Additionally, the presence of health-related fears was specifically linked to fewer reported depressive symptoms. These findings suggested that the promotion of and investment in health-related personal goals may be useful in off-setting depressive symptoms in older adults, as well as indicated a potential benefit of a disease prevention focus regarding health in later life. Finally, the results may have implications for potential clinical interventions in addressing late-life depression.
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Details
- Title
- Possible selves and depressive symptoms in later life
- Creators
- Cory Bolkan - Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, WA, USA bolkan@vancouver.wsu.eduKaren Hooker - Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USADeborah Coehlo - Oregon State University, Cascades Campus, Bend, OR, US Juniper Ridge Clinic, Bend, OR, USA
- Publication Details
- Research on aging, Vol.37(1), pp.41-62
- Academic Unit
- Human Development, Department of
- Publisher
- United States
- Identifiers
- 99900547903701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article