The effect of elders' household contributions on their depression

This paper explores the effect the elderly care recipient's contribution to the household has on his or her well-being as indicated by level of depression. The purposive sample consisted of 647 families referred from over 100 sources representing a total of 27 counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that contributing to the household has a significant impact on the elder's level of depression. The effect was not significantly different for elders living with a caregiving spouse or child or grandchild. It was determined that aspects of the living arrangement did differentially affect the elder's level of depression in these two familial living situations. The elder seemed less depressed when the caregiving relationship with a child or grandchild was of longer duration, suggesting that dissatisfaction may abate with time.