Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Dunphy, Lynne M.

Abstract

The leading cause of disability among older adults is osteoarthritis (OA) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Chronic pain associated with arthritis interferes with daily living among older adults and has been related to depression (Zanocchi et al., 2008). Research suggests that ethnicity and psychosocial factors may influence health outcomes of older adults with arthritis who are experiencing chronic pain and depression (Im, Guevara, & Chee, 2007; Wilson et al., 2014). The influence of ethnicity on depression among older adults with OA experiencing chronic pain is the phenomenon of interest for this study. Chronic pain that interferes with activities of daily living gives rise to disability, followed by potential episodes of depression. This currently is impacting the quality of life for older adults with OA. The aim of this study was to gain new insight regarding the relationship and predictive factors for depression between pain interference, gender, and ethnicity among older adults with OA pain and depression. This study examined the research question, “Does ethnicity, gender, and pain interference predict depression among older adults with osteoarthritis?” This study was a secondary analysis of existing data from the National Institute of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (Park, McCaffrey, Newman, Cheung, & Hagen, 2014) study titled, The Effect of Sit ‘N’ Fit Chair Yoga on Community-Dwelling Elders with Osteoarthritis. A descriptive retrospective correlational design was utilized to investigate factors that predict depression. Statistical analysis included multiple linear regression and analysis of variance. The study sample (n = 104) consisted of community-dwelling older adults ages 65 years or older with osteoarthritis. Findings indicated that (1) ethnicity, gender, and pain interference did predict depression; (2) there were no significant difference in depression between Hispanics and non-Hispanics while controlling for pain interference; and (3) there was statistically significant differential interaction with depression when pain interference increased, with Hispanics reporting higher levels of depressions as pain interference increased, as compared to non-Hispanics. The new knowledge gained from this study may help guide healthcare providers in developing effective alternative approaches for improving health outcomes of mismanaged ethnically diverse older adults with OA.

Extent

109 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00004949

Format

pdf

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