Dataset Information

Depressive Symptoms, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Global Cognition in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Prior research indicates that depressive symptoms disproportionately affect cognition in non-Hispanic Blacks relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Depressive symptoms have been linked to worse global cognition in older adulthood through lower leisure activity engagement, but less is known regarding the distinct types of activities that drive these associations and whether associations involving depressive symptoms, leisure activities, and cognition differ across racial groups.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used data from the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (n = 453, 52.80% Black, Mage = 63.60 years). Principal components analysis identified 6 subtypes of leisure activities (cognitive, creative, community, physical, children, and games). Mediation models examined whether distinct leisure activity subtypes mediated the association between depressive symptoms and performance on a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and whether race moderated these associations.

Results

There were no racial differences in the level of depressive symptoms after adjusting for sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health covariates. Only lower cognitive activity engagement mediated the negative association between depressive symptoms and global cognition. Multigroup models revealed that this indirect effect was only evident in Blacks, who showed a stronger negative association between depressive symptoms and cognitive activity engagement than Whites. After accounting for indirect effects, a direct effect of higher depressive symptoms on worse cognition remained and did not differ across racial groups.

Discussion

Depressive symptoms may disproportionately affect cognition among Blacks through a greater negative impact on engagement in cognitively stimulating activities that have been shown to promote cognitive reserve. Additional research is necessary to identify other mechanisms linking depressive symptoms and cognition.

SUBMITTER: Sharifian N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9683487 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Depressive Symptoms, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Global Cognition in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults.

Sharifian Neika N Sol Ketlyne K Zaheed Afsara B AB Morris Emily P EP Palms Jordan D JD Martino Alexa G AG Zahodne Laura B LB

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 20221101 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>Prior research indicates that depressive symptoms disproportionately affect cognition in non-Hispanic Blacks relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Depressive symptoms have been linked to worse global cognition in older adulthood through lower leisure activity engagement, but less is known regarding the distinct types of activities that drive these associations and whether associations involving depressive symptoms, leisure activities, and cognition differ across racial groups.<h4>M ...[more]

PMID: 34387343

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Project description:Background and objectivesPerceived discrimination is a risk factor for poor mental health. However, most studies measure discrimination at one time point, which does not account for heterogeneity in the cumulative patterning of exposure to discrimination. To address this gap, we examine the association between discrimination trajectories and depressive symptoms among black middle-aged and older adults.Research design and methodsData were analyzed from a subsample of black Health and Retirement Study respondents (2006-2018, N = 2926, older than 50 years). General discrimination and racial discrimination trajectories were constructed based on the Everyday Discrimination Scale using repeated measures latent profile analyses. We examined the extent to which the association between discrimination trajectories are differentially associated with depressive symptoms (8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale) using negative binomial regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Effect modification by age and gender was tested.ResultsIndividuals in the persistently high (incident rate ratio [IRR]: 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49-1.95) and moderate general discrimination trajectories (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.33) were more likely to have elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to those in the persistently low trajectory. This relationship was strongest among older adults aged older than 65 years. Respondents in the persistently high racial discrimination trajectory (IRR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.29-1.73) had a higher risk of elevated depressive symptoms in comparison to respondents in the persistently low trajectory. Sensitivity analyses indicated that there was an independent association between persistently high racial discrimination trajectory class and elevated depressive symptoms, after adjusting for racial discrimination measured at a single time point.Discussion and implicationsCharacterizing longitudinal patterns of perceived discrimination may facilitate the stratification of mental health risk and vulnerability among black middle-aged and older adults. Trajectories of racial discrimination may inform risk of worse depressive symptoms more accurately than a single assessment of discrimination.

Dataset Information

Depressive Symptoms, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Global Cognition in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Depressive Symptoms, Leisure Activity Engagement, and Global Cognition in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults.

Similar Datasets

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