Using random coefficient growth curve analysis, this study utilizes 12 waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (1994–2016; person-waves = 145,177) to examine the association between multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and depressive symptoms among older adults. Applying cumulative disadvantage and intersectionality theories, we also test whether the association between MCC and depressive symptoms differs by race, nativity, and gender. Findings reveal that MCC prevalence is highest among U.S.-born black women, whereas depressive symptoms are highest among foreign-born Hispanic women. Compared to men, MCC has a stronger effect on women’s depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the MCC–depressive symptoms association is strongest for foreign-born Hispanic women. Despite an increase in MCC in the transition from midlife to late life, all race–nativity–gender groups experience a decline in depressive symptoms as they age. The decline in depressive symptoms is steepest for U.S.-born black and foreign-born Hispanic women. Study implications are discussed.

使用随机系数增长曲线分析，本研究利用来自健康与退休研究（1994-2016；人波 = 145,177）的 12 波数据来检查老年人中多种慢性病 (MCC) 与抑郁症状之间的关联。应用累积劣势和交叉性理论，我们还测试了 MCC 与抑郁症状之间的关联是否因种族、出生地和性别而异。调查结果显示，美国出生的黑人女性中 MCC 的患病率最高，而外国出生的西班牙裔女性的抑郁症状最高。与男性相比，MCC 对女性抑郁症状的影响更强。此外，在外国出生的西班牙裔女性中，MCC 与抑郁症状的关联最为强烈。尽管 MCC 在从中年到晚年的过渡中有所增加，随着年龄的增长，所有种族-出生-性别群体的抑郁症状都会减少。美国出生的黑人和外国出生的西班牙裔女性的抑郁症状下降幅度最大。讨论了研究意义。