Psychosocial Stress, Resilience and Depression in Older Adults

The study investigated the relationship between psychosocial stress, resilience and depression among older adults.It was hypothesized that 1) there will be a negative relationship between psychosocial stress and resilience among older adults, 2) there will be a negative relationship between resilience and depression among older adults 3) there would be gender differences regarding stress, depression and resilience among older adults among and 4) the age, religious inclination, physical condition, perceived stress, trait resilience and state resilience would predict depression among older adults. Cross-sectional research design was used.The sample comprised of 90 older adults including 54 men and 36 women (M=69, SD=4.3). The data were collected by employing purposive sampling technique from a suburban area of Lahore city. Elder Life Stress Inventory (Aldwin, 1990), Resilience State Trait Inventory (Hiew, 2002), Geriatric Depression Scale (Yesavage, 1996) and demographic information sheet were administered. Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Independent Sample t-test and BackwardMultipleRegression Analysis were used. Results revealed negative relationships between psychosocial stress, resilience and depression. It was also found thatperceived stress and resilience were predictors of depression among older adults. Findings call for the need to work on enhancing resilience and reducing psycho-social stressors in the lives of older adults by means of therapeutic interventions and policy-change.