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International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

22-09-2023 | Original Article

Longitudinal Relationship Between Self-Perceptions of Aging and Depressive Symptoms: Exploring Reciprocal Within-Person Links

Author: Mohsen Joshanloo

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

Abstract

This study examined the temporal within-person associations between self-perceptions of aging and depressive symptoms. Data were from five waves of the German Aging Survey (DEAS) collected between 2008 and 2021 (N = 15,086, mean age at baseline ≈60 years). The study employed a multidimensional measure of self-perceptions of aging that taps into two negative domains of perceptions of physical loss and social loss, and two positive domains of perceptions of personal growth and gains. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model was used for data analysis. Results showed that there were reciprocal within-person associations between physical loss and personal growth and depressive symptoms. There was also a significant within-person effect from depressive symptoms to social loss. The other within-person effects were either not significant or trivial. Overall, these findings suggest that some negative perceptions of aging (or lack of positive perceptions) are a risk factor for depressive symptoms. The findings also indicate that depressive symptoms are a prospective predictor of less favorable views of aging.

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Title: Longitudinal Relationship Between Self-Perceptions of Aging and Depressive Symptoms: Exploring Reciprocal Within-Person Links
Author: Mohsen Joshanloo
Publication date: 22-09-2023
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-023-01162-3

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Longitudinal Relationship Between Self-Perceptions of Aging and Depressive Symptoms: Exploring Reciprocal Within-Person Links

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