The Effects of Environmental Context on Elderly Depression

This article examines the impact of environmental context (social networks and neighborhood characteristics) on the distress process. Both personal history and environmental variables are used to explain differences in depressive symptomatology for a random, representative cluster sample (N = 725) of persons 55+ in four metropolitan counties of Alabama. Levels of distress are higher among Whites, women, the younger old, the poor and more poorly educated, and the functionally impaired. In addition, being environmentally dissatisfied, having limited social supports, or living in neighborhoods with transportation problems increases the likelihood of depressive symptoms. As predicted by M. Powell Lawton and Lucille Nahemow's model of environmental press, person/environment factors are important in predicting depressive symptomatology. Interaction effects are demonstrated between competence and the neighborhood characteristics of age density and transportation accessibility. Functionally impaired elders living in less age dense or low-accessibility neighborhoods experienced an increase in depressive symptoms. Functionally less healthy elders with greater environmental satisfaction had lower depression. These relationships document the importance of the residential and social environment for aging.