Idle minds are the devil's tools? Coping, depressed mood and divergent thinking in older adults. (2nd December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mélendez, Juan Carlos; Alfonso-Benlliure, Vicente; Mayordomo, Teresa
• Is Part Of: Aging & mental health. Volume 22:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: 1606
• Page End: 1613
• Publication Date: 2018-12-02
• Subjects: Coping -- depressed mood -- divergent thinking -- creativity; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Aging -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Aged -- psychology -- periodicals; Mental Health -- periodicals; Mental Health Services -- periodicals; Aging -- psychology -- periodicals; Aged, 80 and over -- psychology -- periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1387765
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7863

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : The main aim was to test a causal relations model of the problem-focused and emotion-focused coping styles, depressed mood, and divergent thinking (DT) in older adults. It was hypothesized that both forms of coping would have a significant effect on predicting depressed mood, and that problem-focused coping and depressed mood would have a significant effect on DT. Method : Participants were 135 subjects with ages ranging between 55 and 84 years old, who took part in a personal interview and filled out several questionnaires. The statistical analysis included structural equations models (SEM). Results : The initial model led to a final model endorsed by the goodness of fit, composite reliability, and discriminant validity indexes. This model confirms a direct relationship between the two types of coping strategies and depressed mood (with the opposite sign), but not between rational coping and DT. Finally, depressed mood was also confirmed as a mediator variable between coping and DT. Conclusion : The type of coping is a clear predictor of mood in older adults. Advanced age decline is not necessarily translated into inefficacy in everyday problem solving especially in those who, through proble-focused coping, avoid depressed moods and maintain good levels of DT.