SOCIAL SUPPORT AND DEPRESSION AS RISK-FACTORS FOR LOSS OF PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN LATE-LIFE

Poor physical function status in elders is a robust predictor of not o nly medical service use and institutionalization but also mortality. W e assessed whether depressive symptoms and low social support would pr edict deficits in three domains of physical function among 3,240 commu nity-dwelling older adults in the Piedmont of North Carolina over one year. Between 7-23% of the sample declined in functional ability, depe nding on the domain tested. Depressive symptoms and receipt of instrum ental support predicted declines in all domains of physical function. Giving instrumental support and subjective social support protected el ders against declines, and subjective social support buffered the detr imental effect of depression on risk of physical decline. This study s uggests that significant risk of functional impairment could be reduce d among elderly persons if coincidental depressive symptoms could be a lleviated and/or deficits in their social environment remedied.