Social exchanges and depression among older adults in south Brazil
Abstract
The specific purpose of this research was to investigate whether social exchanges are systematically related to depression among older adults in South Brazil. In addition the analysis determined if this relationship varied across levels of socioeconomic status, marital status (Cockerham, 1991), gender and race (Su and Ferraro, 1997), physical conditions and risk behaviors. The present study is based on a 1995 survey of 871 non-institutionalized adults, 60 years and older, who live in the Southern region of Brazil. The subjects were followed-up in 1999, with a response rate of 63.9%. After documenting the social exchange patterns, cross-sectional multivariate regression models are estimated to determine how social exchanges are related to depression among Brazilian elderly. Then, residualized regression models, including a selection bias term, are used to specify this relationship longitudinally controlling for socioeconomic status, gender, race, marital status, morbidity, limitations of daily life and risk behaviors. Finally, structural equation models are used to examine if there is a reciprocal relationship between depression and social exchanges. The results showed that the respondents were more likely to participate in exchanges with relatives than with friends. However, the intensity of these exchanges is quite low. Financial exchanges are less common than emotional and instrumental exchanges. Unbalanced exchanges increase depression in one point time and over time. This effect varies according to the type of exchange being considered. Emotional exchanges are significantly related to depression, but instrumental and financial exchanges are not. The intensity of exchanges and frequency of exchanges have an influence in the relationship between of social exchanges and depression. The differences in depression levels between exchangers and non-exchangers are not explained by individual level characteristics. Living arrangements, gender, low education level, married marital status, risk behaviors, morbidity and physical health problems are associated with depression cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The analysis did not find any evidence of a reciprocal relationship between social exchanges and depression.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Wilmoth, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Gerontology
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