The Risk Factors for Depression Among Older Adults in Residential Aged Care

This thesis demonstrates the longitudinal relationship between a multifactorial set of modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors—sleep disturbance, pain, social support, person-environment fit, mastery and meaningful existence—and depression symptoms. It contributes to the limited but promising evidence on the role of pain and sleep disturbance as risk factors for depression. The findings also step outside the well-trodden path of unmodifiable risk factors for depression by providing evidence that mastery, meaningful existence and person-environment fit may also play a role in ameliorating depression outcomes. Finally, these findings offer a range of clinical implications, most notably opportunities to strategically inform prevention and intervention programs.