Do Friend Support and Strain Moderate the Association Between Physical Limitations and Older Adults' Depressive Symptoms?

Abstract

Stress theories propose that the mental health consequences of physical health problems are buffered by social support and amplified by relationship strain, yet it is unclear how older adults' friendships moderate these associations. Using data from 2016 and 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 8,558), we evaluate whether associations between number of physical limitations and depressive symptoms (CES-D) are moderated by friend support and strain, and whether these patterns differ by gender and partnership status. Multivariable OLS regressions show friend strain amplifies and friend support mutes the association between having 3+ physical limitations and depressive symptoms. Protective effects of friend support are larger for unpartnered versus partnered persons, although patterns do not differ by gender. The egalitarian nature of supportive friendships may make them particularly protective for older adults with physical limitations. Health problems may undermine equity in friendships, intensifying the psychological consequences of friend strain.