Self-rated health as a moderator of the relation between functional impairment and depressive symptoms in older adults

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between functional impairment, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms. Independently, self-rated health and functional impairment each contribute to depressive symptoms; however, it remains unknown how these variables are related to depression in combination. It was hypothesized that self-rated health would moderate the relation between functional impairment and depressive symptoms in a sample of older adults. Method: A community sample of adults aged 60 and above was recruited from primary care clinics (n=106); 98 of these participants had usable data. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and self-rated physical health. Results: Self-rated health moderated the relation between functional impairment and depressive symptoms. For participants with poor self-rated health, greater functional impairment was associated with greater depressive symptoms. Conclusion: It appears that patient perceptions of health may be protective against depressive symptoms for those with functional impairment.