Depression among ethnically diverse older women:: The role of demographic and cognitive factors

Research has identified a strong relationship between depression and demographic factors such as income and widowed status. Prior studies have also linked common cognitive "slips" to depressive symptomatology. However very little research has investigated these relationships with respect to the older adult population, particularly within ethnic minorities. To address this gap in the literature, the present study examined the contribution of demographic and cognitive factors to depressive symptomatology among 228 noninstitutionalized women (60 years of age or older) from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The findings identified a significant relationship between depressive symptomatology and cognitive failure, low income, and Middle-Eastern or American-Indian descent.