1. The Impact of Social Relationships on Depressive Symptoms among Older Barbadian Women

2. Introduction Two models have been proposed to explain the relationship between social ties and mental health (Kawachi & Berkman, 2001) – Main effect model – Stress buffering model Social ties (Berkman & Glass, 2000) – positive effects on health behaviors and psychological states or – by promoting access to a greater variety of types of support

3. Introduction Stress process that leads to depression – Physical limitations (Yang & George, 2005) – Economy insecurity (Krause, 1987) Women report higher depression (Wethington, McLoed, Kessler, 1987) – Married women display similar or higher prevalence of depression compare to single women (Bebbington, 1999)

4. Introduction By the year 2000, 6 Caribbean countries had already found more than 10 % of their populations over the age of 60 years By 2025, Barbados and Cuba are projected to be the first countries in the Caribbean with 25% of their population to be over age 60 On a general note, not much is known of the lives of women over age 60 in the Caribbean

5. Specific Aims 1.Examine how social relationships acts as buffers in the presence of life stressors 2.Examine how social support affect older Barbadian women’s depressive symptomology across types of living conditions

6. Methods Survey on Health and Well-Being of Elders – Seven cities in Latin America and Caribbean Bridgetown, Barbados – The national electoral registry, which is updated periodically, was used to calculate the sample – Response rate 85% – Female = 924/ Male = 888 Measurements – Abbreviated Geriatric Depression Scale – Self Reported Health

7. Methods MMSE score of 6 (N = 867) Outcome variable: Geriatric Depression Scale – Cut-off point 6/7 Independent variable: Functional social network Control variables: age, levels of education, ethnicity,

8. Table 1. Sample Characteristics of Barbadian Older Women N (%)µ (sd) Age GroupN = 92472.9 (8.6) 60 to 69 years309 (42.2) 70 to 79 years320 (34.6) 80 and older214 (23.1) Ethnic BackgroundN = 924 White49 (5.4) Black738 (80.9) Mulatto112 (12.3) Other13 (1.4) Levels of EducationN = 9195.15 (3.2) None21 (2.3) Primary714 (77.7) Secondary148 (16.1) Higher36 (3.9) Born in BarbadosN = 924 Yes807 (87.3) No117 (12.7)

9. Table 2. Characteristics of Social Network Structure of Older Barbadian Women Marital StatusN = 913 % Single23625.8 Married or cohabiting21723.8 Widowed31634.6 Separated or divorced14415.8 Living arrangementN = 924 Alone21923.7 With someone70576.3 Living arrangement of childrenN = 910 Yes85894.3 No434.7 Does not know91

10. Table 3. Health Status % Self-rated health N = 924 Excellent232.5 Very good to Good39843.0 Fair to Poor49954.0 Does not know40.4 HypertensionN = 923 Yes49653.7 Type-2 DiabetesN = 920 Yes21823.7 CancerN = 922 Yes323.5 Chronic Lung DiseaseN = 922 Yes434.7 Heart ConditionN = 923 Yes10611.5 Cerebral EmbolismN = 917 Yes596.4 ArthritisN = 923 Yes53357.7 Fallen in the last 12 monthsN = 918 Yes26328.6

11. Table 4. Odds Ratios and 95% CI obtained from Logistic Regression Analysis for Depressive Symptoms by Social Network Structure and Characteristics Independent VariableβSEOR (95%CI)p-value Age-0.0020.0310.003 (0.939 – 1.061)0.954 Race Black1.0 (ref) Non-Black0.3660.7670.77 (0.320 – 6.486)0.227 Education-0.0280.0850.11 (0.823 – 1.148)0.738 Marital Status Married1.0 (ref) Single1.4821.6321.6 (0.453 – 42.756)0.201 Not Married2.0381.1013.4 (0886 – 66.403)0.064 Widowed2.5731.0875.6 (1.556 – 110.455)0.018 Living arrangement Alone1.0 (ref) With someone-0.2570.6530.155 (0.215 – 2.780).694

12. Conclusion Women less likely to be married but more likely to live with someone (i.e., children) Women appear to benefit from having some of their children living inside the home Social relationships have important buffering properties Public health implications: interventions that are family-focused Future research: Links to reciprocity between provider and recipients

13. Acknowledge Samatha Pittman, BS Diana Arellego Ayumi Irie, BS