Lifestyle regularity and activity level as protective factors against bereavement-related depression in late-life

Abstract

This study sought to determine whether high regularity in the timing of daily activities among the elderly soon after spousal death was protective against depressive symptomatology 1 and 2 years later, and the degree to which the depression-buffering effects of high lifestyle regularity were contingent upon the level of activity performed. The regularity of daily activities was assessed at 3 months post-loss among 41 spousally bereaved subjects aged 60 and above; depressive symptomatology was measured at 3, 12, and 24 months post-loss. Multiple regression analyses revealed that greater lifestyle regularity at 3 months post-loss predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms at 1 year post-loss among those in the upper-half level of activity. There was a trend, which suggested that greater lifestyle regularity at 3 months post-loss was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms at 24 months post-loss among those in the upper-third level of activity. These preliminary results suggest that for aged widows and widowers, lifestyle regularity may prevent long-lasting depressive symptomatology secondary to spousal bereavement, provided an adequate number of activities are performed. Depression 3:297–302 (1995/1996). © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.