The Effects of Self-rated Health on Depression to Disabled Elderly: The Moderating Effects of Psychosocial Resources

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effects of psychosocial resources on the relation between self-rated health and depression to disabled elderly. Specifically, it examines the effects of self-rated health on depression and tests whether psychosocial resources (i.e. self-esteem and social support) moderate the relationship between self-rated health and depression. To investigate the moderating effects, simple slope test based on multiple linear regression (MLR) model was used. This study included a total of 650 disabled elderly over 65 years of age from the data of Korea Welfare Panel Study (2011), the national longitudinal study. It was found that psychosocial resources worked to buffer the impact of bad health on depression. The harmful effects of disability on depression were attenuated by self-esteem and social support. Practice and policy implications as well as further research topic were discussed to aid the search for effective preventive and treatment interventions.