PSYCHIATRIC-SYMPTOMS AND HELP-SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG THE ELDERLY - ANANALYSIS OF RACIAL AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

This study of randomly selected black (N = 600) and white (N = 600) el derly individuals residing in Nashville, TN, examines the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and utilization of both formal and infor mal resources of help among the black and white elderly. Relevant data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the elderly livin g either in their own homes or in the high-rise apartments for the eld erly. Analyses of data show that significantly greater proportions of the elderly with psychiatric symptoms in both samples use mental healt h professionals. Mental health services, however, were less frequently used as compared to the family physician or seeing the clergyman. Fur thermore, in both samples, help from clergy, friends/relatives or pray ing frequently was higher among the females than males. The elderly ma les tended to use drinking more than usual and going out for long walk s as coping mechanisms. A discussion of these findings is provided.