Rural residence and depressive symptoms among elderly Hispanics

This study examines the relationship of depressive symptoms, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Scale (CES-D), and general mental health status using the MCS-12. The relationship between individual's depressive symptoms, using CES-D and general mental health status, using the Mental Component Summary (MCS-12) of the SF-I2 with environmental, predisposing, enabling, and need factors were examined. The focus of the study was on 566 elderly Hispanics living in west Texas. The data source for the study was collected through the Texas Tech 5000 Survey, a telephonic survey of approximately 5,000 elderly residing in 107 counties of west Texas. Two hypotheses were tested. Hypothesis 1 stated that individuals living along the border have lower (worse) MCS-12 scores and higher (worse) CES-D scores than individuals living in the interior. Hypothesis 2 stated that individuals living in rural areas have lower (worse) MCS-12 scores and higher (worse) CES-D scores than individuals living in urban areas.

Andersen's Behavioral Model was used to identify the factors associated with depressive symptoms and general mental health status . The independent variables were classified as environmental, predisposing, enabling, or need factors. The study used the Area Resource File to provide the environmental factors in order to understand the characteristics of the population associated with having more depressive symptoms and/or worse mental health status. The findings indicated that there were no major differences in depressive symptoms or MCS-12 scores among rural or urban residents as well as those living along the border. However, individuals that needed assistance with ADLs and lADLs had more depressive symptoms and had worse general mental health status than their counterparts. Individuals that were more religious had fewer depressive symptoms and better mental health status. There is a need for future research to focus on what are the main components that are associated with these factors and the onset of depressive symptoms.