The moderating and covarying effects of social support and pain intensity on depressive symptomology among racially and ethnically diverse older adults.

Aim: To examine the interplay of social support, pain intensity and ethnicity as moderators and covariates of relationship on depressive symptomatology.

Methods: Racially and ethnically diverse elders responded to measures of depressive symptomatology and social support.

Results: Hispanics reported significantly higher prevalence of moderate pain intensity and depressive symptomology, and lower prevalence of high social support compared with other ethnic groups. Although social support showed reduced depressive symptomatology among those with high pain intensity, it did not play a significant role in decreasing depressive symptomatology among those with low/moderate pain intensity.

Conclusion: Social support in decreasing depressive symptomatology is more effective in older adults with high pain intensity than those with moderate or low levels of pain intensity.