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Cited by 131Aging, Health, and DisabilityResilience and Mental HealthAging and Gerontology Research

Coping and Depression in Old Age: A Literature Review

Bjørkløf, Guro Hanevold, Engedal, Knut, Selbæk, Geir, Kouwenhoven, Siren Eriksen, Helvik, Anne-Sofie·2013·Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
DOI 10.1159/000346633
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Abstract

Background/Aims: The interest in the relation between coping and depression in older persons is growing, but research on the concepts and instruments of coping in relation to depression among older persons is scarce and systematic reviews are lacking. With this background, we wanted to gain a systematic overview of this field by performing a systematic literature search. Methods: A computer-aided search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, PubMed and www.salutogenesis.fi was conducted. We systematically searched for studies including coping and depression among persons 60 years of age and above. The included studies were evaluated according to predefined quality criteria. Results: Seventy-five studies, 38 clinical and 37 community settings, were included. Of these, 44 were evaluated to be of higher quality. Studies recruiting samples of older persons with a major depressive disorder, moderate or severe cognitive impairment or those who were dependent on care were scarce, thus the research is not representative of such samples. We found a huge variety of instruments assessing resources and strategies of coping (55 inventories). Although we found the relation between resources and strategies of coping and depression to be strong in the majority of studies, i.e. a higher sense of control and internal locus of control, more active strategies and positive religious coping were significantly associated with fewer symptoms of depression both in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies in clinical and community settings. Conclusion: Resources and strategies of coping are significantly associated with depressive symptoms in late life, but more research to systematize the field of coping and to validate the instruments of resources and strategies of coping in older populations is required, especially among older persons suffering from major depression and cognitive decline.

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Authors
Bjørkløf, G. H., Engedal, K., Selbæk, G., Kouwenhoven, S. E., & Helvik, A.-S.
Affiliations
  • Vestre Viken Hospital Trust (NO)
  • Oslo University Hospital (NO)
  • Innlandet Hospital Trust (NO)
  • Buskerud University College (NO)
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
ORCID
Venue
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2013
Volume
35
Issue
3-4
Pages
121-154
ISSN
  • 1420-8008 (ISSN-L)
  • 1421-9824
DOI
10.1159/000346633
OpenAlex
W2022849270
Cited by
130
References
167
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5
FWCI
1.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
coping, depression, older adults, old age, coping resources, coping strategies, perceived control, locus of control, religious coping, cognitive impairment, major depressive disorder
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Aging, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male

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