| dc.description.abstract | Multimorbidity is a common occurrence among older adults and has significant ramifications on mental health. As depression is expected to become the top contributor to chronic disease burden, it is important to understand the effect of multimorbidity on depressive symptoms, and whether particular disease clusters are associated with increased depressive symptoms. The present study investigated whether chronic diseases clustered among an older adult population, and whether these clusters predicted depressive symptom severity. Secondary analyses were performed using interview data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP). Participants were Black, White, and Hispanic adults 65 years of age (M=73.7, SD=5.7) who reported at least two chronic illness diagnoses (mean diagnoses = 3.1, SD = 1.2). Patterns of comorbidity were assessed using tetrachoric factor analysis and a multivariable linear regression model. Factor analysis demonstrated five disease patterns: cancers, arthritis, pulmonary, metabolic, and stress factors. Analyses demonstrated that the five factors were not predictive of increased depressive symptom severity. However, the total number of conditions was significantly associated with increased depressive symptomatology. This is likely due to the stress associated with chronic disease symptom management, and reflective of poor or unsuccessful disease management and symptom burden. These findings add to the limited body of knowledge investigating disease patterns in older adults, and help to better understand the reciprocal impact of chronic conditions on mental health. | |
