Willingness to Use Mental Health Services Among Older Residents in Assisted Living

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Keywords

mental health service use, depressive symptoms, social support, assisted living

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464810392373

Abstract

Examining the importance of mental health care in assisted living (AL) settings, the present study examines older AL residents’ willingness to use mental health services and its predictors. Data based on face-to-face interviews with 150 older residents from 17 AL settings in Florida are used in the analyses (Mage = 82.8, SD = 9.4). Multivariate logistic regression is used to estimate the likelihood of willingness to use mental health services in relation to predisposing (demographics and physical health), mental health needs (depressive symptoms), and enabling variables (social network, instrumental support, emotional support, informational support, satisfaction with support, and previous use of mental health services). Willingness to use mental health services is predicted by younger age, unmarried status, lower levels of emotional support, and higher levels of informational support. The relationship of informational support to higher willingness to use mental health services suggests that AL residents could benefit from educational interventions on late life depression.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Applied Gerontology, v. 31, issue 4, p. 562-579

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