Depression in relation to purpose in life among a very old population: A five-year follow-up study
Abstract
Objectives To investigate the relationship between purpose in life and depression and, in a five-year follow-up investigate whether purpose in life, adjusted for different background characteristics, can prevent very old men and women from developing depression. Methods A cross-sectional study included 189 participants (120 women and 69 men) 85-103 years of age living in a county in northern Sweden. Those who had not been diagnosed as depressed at baseline were included in the five-year follow-up study (n = 78). Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, the Organic Brain Syndrome scale, the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria. Purpose in life was assessed with the Purpose in Life (PIL) scale. Results In the cross-sectional study, 40 participants out of 189 (21.2%) were depressed, and those with depression had significantly lower PIL scores (mean score 107 vs. 99, p = 0.014). In the follow-up study, 78 persons were available for the assessment of depression. Of those, 21 (26.9%) were diagnosed as depressed and their mean PIL score at baseline was 106 (SD = 17.4) versus 108 (SD = 16.0, p = 0.750) among those not depressed. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for possible confounders, we found no association between purpose in life and the risk of developing depression after five years (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.97-1.03). Conclusions The results show a significant…
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Purpose in life operates as a mechanism that addresses risk and resilience for multiple disorders.
“Although the current focus was on SAD, we believe purpose in life operates as a mechanism that addresses risk and resilience for multiple disorders (Andresen, Oades, & Caputi, 2003; Hedberg, Gustafson, Alèx, & Brulin, 2010).”
From Commitment to a purpose in life: An antidote to the suffering by individuals with social anxiety disorder. (2013) · cites this paper as Hedberg, Gustafson, Alèx, & Brulin, 2010
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Nygren, B., Aléx, L., Jonsén, E., Gustafson, Y., Norberg, A., & Lundman, B. (2005) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/1360500114415 · Cited by 589 · see citing works
Self-citationCreating and maintaining purpose in life in old age: A meta-analysis
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Accuracy of the 15‐item geriatric depression scale (GDS‐15) in a community sample of the oldest old
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Purpose in Life and Depressive Symptoms in Persons Living with HIV Disease
Lyon, D. E., & Younger, J. B. (2001) · Journal of Nursing Scholarship · doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2001.00129.x · Cited by 87 · see citing works
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Sense of purpose as a psychological resource for aging well.
Windsor, T. D., Curtis, R. G., & Luszcz, M. A. (2015) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0000023 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Kashdan, T. B., & McKnight, P. E. (2013) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0033278 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
- Authors
- Hedberg, P., Gustafson, Y., Alèx, L., & Brulin, C.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Umeå University
- Corresponding author
- Hedberg, Pia
- Venue
- Aging & Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2010-08
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 757-763
- ISSN
- 1360-7863 (ISSN-L)
- 1364-6915
- OpenAlex
- W1991148880
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Aging & Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- meaning of life, depression, oldest old, older adults, depression prevention, protective factors, geriatric depression, longitudinal follow-up
- MeSH terms
- Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sweden, Geriatric Assessment, Logistic Models
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