A MULTIDIMENSIONAL EXAMINATION OF DEPRESSION AMONG THE ELDERLY

Data from 868 eastern North Carolina elders are used to examine the ef fects of variables hypothesized to moderate the impact of life strain on depression. Principal components factor analysis is used to categor ize depression into subdimensions of life satisfaction, withdrawal, an d general depressive affect. Although independent variables such as in strumental activities of daily living limitations as an indicator of l ife strain are found to affect the subdimensions, differences pertaini ng only to certain subdimensions of depression are found. The findings support the importance of subdimensions of depression and suggest var iability among subpopulations within a primarily nonurban sample.