opment of depression and decreases in depression over time. EMOTION REGULATION AND DEPRESSION IN SENIORS: THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND PERCEIVED STRESS

Abstract

effects of socio-demographic variables on these depression trajectories. Respondents were 1664 widowed older adults aged over 50 from waves 1 to 11 of Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Depression of the respondents was measured by an abbreviated 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies—Depression Scale (HRS CES-D). The HRS CES-D score was used for selected respondents at four consecutive waves: pre-widowhood wave, widowhood wave, and two post-widowhood waves. Using latent class growth analysis, four groups were identified as the depression trajectories before and after widowhood. Low Depression group (68.0%) consists of respondents whose depression score remained low all the time, Increasing Depression group (14.5%) whose depression score was low at pre-widowhood wave but increased after widowhood, Decreasing Depression group (11.5%) whose high depression score at pre-widowhood wave decreased over time, and High Depression group (5.9%) whose depression score was chronically high. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted and age, gender, race, education level, as well as household income at pre-widowhood wave were found significant in differentiating different trajectories. The study highlights the importance of focusing on trajectories of depression over time among widowed older adults and identifying factors that predict both the development of depression and decreases in depression over time.