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The Longitudinal Association between Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Comparison by Retirement Status

Baik, Ok Mi
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1291412716

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Social Welfare.
The purpose of this dissertation was two fold: 1) to examine the relationships between depressive symptoms and alcohol use among middle-aged and early older adults and 2) to examine whether retirement status moderates the differences in the relationships. For examining these aims, this study utilized a multi-group cross-lagged structural equation modeling using a pane data of the Wisconsin longitudinal study (N=3,204). No support for a mutually reinforcing relation between depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption was found in the current study. Higher levels of depressive symptoms did not lead to higher alcohol consumption among early older adults, and alcohol consumption was not associated with later depressive symptoms by analyzing the cross-lagged SEM. Therefore, the nature of the causal processes contributing to the obtained pattern of relationships between depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption cannot be determined by this study. These results may reflect that the mechanisms responsible for co-morbidity of depressive symptoms and alcohol-related problems could vary across individuals and represent etiologically distinct subgroups. There was no significant moderating effect of retirement status in the relationship between depressive symptoms and alcohol use by analyzing the multi-group SEM. Several caveats should be taken into consideration when interpreting the findings of this study. Although this study is a population-based study, the sample was limited to a certain population who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957, and thus, the results have a limitation in terms of generalization. Despite several limitations, the study makes contributions in several areas. Given the fact that a longitudinal design is the optimal research endeavor when examining the relationships between depressive symptoms and alcohol use, this study will provide invaluable information for understanding the relationships. This study has also provided a rigorous test of the cross-lagged relationships using SEM between depressive symptoms and alcohol use among middle-aged and early older adult samples. Overall, the results of this study will add to the existing literature by suggesting that individuals with depressive symptoms and alcohol use represent a complex group with significant psychosocial consequences and treatment needs.
Kathleen Farkas, PhD (Committee Chair)
Kathryn Adams, PhD (Committee Member)
Diana Morris, PhD (Committee Member)
Meeyoung Min, PhD (Committee Member)
145 p.
Social Work
depressive symptoms; alcohol use; longitudinal relationship; multi-group cross-lagged structural equation model

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Baik, O. M. (2011). The Longitudinal Association between Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Comparison by Retirement Status [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1291412716

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Baik, Ok Mi. The Longitudinal Association between Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Comparison by Retirement Status. 2011. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1291412716.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Baik, Ok Mi. "The Longitudinal Association between Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Use in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Comparison by Retirement Status." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1291412716

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1291412716
631
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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.