STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS, PSYCHOSOCIAL RESOURCES, AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG OLDER AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN

Empirical studies focusing on the mental health of older African Ameri can men are sparse. This article examines the relationship of depressi ve symptoms to demographic factors, stressful life events, and psychos ocial coping resources in a sample of 161 African American men 56 year s of age and over. The multivariate analyses demonstrate a significant association between depressive symptomatology and household income, s tressful life events, number of illnesses, mastery over the immediate environment, and self-rated health. Men who were least at risk for hig h depressive symptoms had incomes above $25,000, experienced few or no stressful life events and physical illnesses, and reported high maste ry and health ratings. Implications of the findings are discussed rela tive to future research and mental health service needs.