DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS OF WHITES AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS AGED 60 YEARS ANDOLDER

Consistent with prior work, our hypothesis was that older African Amer icans are less likely to report dysphoria than are older Whites. Study subjects were 968 participants aged 60 years and older in Baltimore, Maryland, and 1,486 participants aged 60 years and older in the Durham -Piedmont region of North Carolina who identified themselves as Africa n American or White and, who had complete data on symptoms of depressi on active in the one month prior to interview, as well as several cova riates thought to be related to depression. The effect of self-reporte d race on the endorsement of symptoms from the section on Major Depres sion in the Diagnostic Interview Schedule was estimated employing stru ctural equations with a measurement model Older African Americans were less likely to report dysphoria than older Whites, although this only achieved statistical significance by conventional standards at the Du rham-Piedmont site. Older African Americans at both sites were signifi cantly more likely to report thoughts of death.