The Variations in Associations between Family Contexts and Late-Life Depression Outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between family contexts and late-life depression outcomes in Latino and Asian populations. The specific aims were to examine i) the associations between family conflict, family cohesion, and late-life depression outcomes, ii) if these associations are confounded by social support (i.e., relatives and friends), and iii) if these associations vary by race/ethnicity and gender. Using subsample of older adults from the National Latino Asian American Study (NLAAS)( n= 395), this paper documents a robust inverse association between late-life depression and family cohesion in Latino and Asian older adults populations (weighted adjusted OR :0. 67 95% CI: 0.53, 0.84). This association varied by gender, with men being more sensitive to family cohesion than women. In contrast to previous literature, ethnicity was not a strong effect modifier of the relationship between late-life depression and family cohesion. Moreover, family conflict and support from relatives and friends had limited impact on depression outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand the complex interplay between social support, ethnicity, and gender in predicting late-life depression.