Eventos estressantes, estratégias de enfrentamento, auto-eficácia e sintomas depressivos entre idosos residentes na comunidade

Abstract

The relationship among stressful life events, coping strategies, self-efficacy in coping and depression in 544 participants of a study on successful aging involving elderly who reside in the community was assessed (74,6% women; age = 72.11; +/- 8.29; 42,1% age 60-69; 39% 70-79 and 18.9% 80-99). Stressfil life events were classified into categories related to: finitude, problems concerning offspring, care, crisis mid psychological well-being. Coping strategies generated five factors: negative emotions, environment control, religiosity, avoidance behaviors, and emotional inhibition. Self-efficacy of coping was evaluated between appropriate versus inappropriate. Mean score of depression assessed through CES-D was 10.24, +/- 8,66); prevalence was 32% to a cut-off score > 11. Major risk for depression was associated with negative emotions, uncontrollable events, age 60-69 and mappropiate self-efficacy of coping. The stressful life events seemed less predictive of depression than the cognitive assessment and the coping did.