Abstract

Objectives

African Americans are differentially affected by most cancers compared to other racial groups. Social participation has demonstrated beneficial effects on mental health in older adults with a history of cancer. The purpose of the present study is to examine and compare the effects of specific social participation activities on depressive symptoms among older African Americans with and without a history of cancer.

Method

The study sample included 2,000 older African Americans selected from the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Waves from 2011 to 2018 were used. Mixed-effects logistic regressions were applied to examine the effects of four social participation activities on depressive symptoms among older African Americans with or without a history of cancer.

Results

Among older African American who had a history of cancer, visiting family and friends and attending religious services were related to lower odds of depressive symptoms. However, among older African Americans without a history of cancer, joining organized activities and going out for enjoyment predicted lower odds of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Older African Americans with a history of cancer tend to benefit from visiting family and friends and attending religious services in coping with depressive symptoms. Mental health services for this group could focus interventions on promoting social participation activities with family, friends, and religious congregants.

中文翻译：

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老年非裔美国癌症幸存者的社会参与和抑郁症状：与非癌症受试者的比较

摘要

目标

与其他种族群体相比，非裔美国人受大多数癌症的影响不同。社会参与已证明对有癌症病史的老年人的心理健康有益。本研究的目的是检查和比较特定社会参与活动对有和没有癌症病史的老年非裔美国人抑郁症状的影响。

方法

研究样本包括从国家健康和老龄化趋势研究中选出的 2,000 名年长的非裔美国人。使用了 2011 年至 2018 年的 Wave。应用混合效应逻辑回归来检查四种社会参与活动对有或没有癌症病史的老年非裔美国人的抑郁症状的影响。

结果

在有癌症病史的年长非洲裔美国人中，探望家人和朋友以及参加宗教活动与抑郁症状的发生率较低有关。然而，在没有癌症病史的年长非洲裔美国人中，参加有组织的活动和外出享受活动预示着抑郁症状的几率较低。

结论

有癌症病史的年长非裔美国人往往受益于探望家人和朋友以及参加应对抑郁症状的宗教仪式。该群体的心理健康服务可以将干预重点放在促进与家人、朋友和宗教信徒的社会参与活动上。