Community participation and the emergence of late-life depressive symptoms: differences between women and men

To understand the role of community participation in prevention of first lifetime depressive episode in older women and men.

We used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study to identify variables that predicted risk for the emergence of depressive symptoms and tested a hypothesis that community participation would protect women from depression more than it would protect men. The sample was drawn from Wisconsin high school graduates who were approximately 64-66 years of age in the 2003-2005 data collection period (n = 2546 with complete data meeting inclusion criteria.) The sample consisted of persons who had no evidence of current or prior lifetime depression in the 1993 data collection period. The emergence of high depressive symptoms was examined for women and men as a function of community participation and other covariates, including social support.

The emergence of depressive symptoms for both sexes was predicted by poorer reported health status and higher levels of subthreshold depressive symptoms during the previous interview. For men, additional risk factors were pain and low income. For women, additional risks were widowhood, lower education, and lower community participation.

Community participation, in the form of volunteering, religious attendance, and engagement in community organizations, is related to reduced risk of first-time depressive symptoms among older women.