Looking inward: introspectiveness, physical disability, and depression across the life course

This study investigates the interrelationships among age, physical disability, introspectiveness, and depression. Using data from a community sample of disabled and non-disabled adults (N = 1,567), this study tests: 1) if there are age variations in introspectiveness; 2) if age variations in introspectiveness differ by physical disability status; 3) if introspectiveness mediates the association between age and depression; 4) if introspectiveness and disability status have synergistic effects on depression; and if so, 5) if subjective health differences between disabled and nondisabled account for the joint impact of introspectiveness and disability status on depression. Results show that older people report less introspectiveness than younger people do--which explains part of the negative association between age and depression. Additionally, the negative association between age and introspectiveness is significantly stronger among nondisabled respondents. Adjustment for less introspectiveness among older adults accounts for about 24 percent of the negative association between age and depression. Disabled respondents experience a more positive relationship between introspectiveness and depression; however, disabled respondents' poorer global health explains most of that pattern.