Table 2.

Unstandardized Multiple Regression Coefficients for Selected Chronic Illnesses and Other Related Factors as Predictors of Depression Among Black Elders (N= 1022)

Variables	Regression Equations
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Age	.02	.02	.02	.02	.02	.02
Sex (male)	−1.78*	−1.80*	−1.80*	−1.80*	−1.83*	−1.77*
Marital status (married)	.62	.63	.69	.60	.60	.60
Education (actual years)	−.16*	−.16*	−.15*	−.16*	−.16*	−.16*
Financial straina	−1.12**	−1.21**	−1.21**	−1.22**	−1.22**	−1.21**
Life eventsb	1.13**	1.13**	1.13**	1.13**	1.13**	1.14**
Self-perceptionc	1.03**	1.03**	1.02**	1.03**	1.03**	1.04**
Social support/Children	−.50	−.50	−.50	−.50	−.51	−.51
Social support/Friendsd	−1.55**	−1.47**	−1.54**	−1.56**	−1.55**	−1.55**
Social support/Siblings	−.53	−.52	−.53	−.52	−.52	−.53
Instrumental supportd	−1.47**	−1.47**	−1.46**	−1.46**	−1.47**	−1.47**
Social support/Confidants	−.47	−.47	−.47	−.47	−.48	−.47
Total number of illnesses	.83**	—	—	—	—	—
Total illnesses excepte	—	.87**	.91**	.91**	.89**	.85**
Isolated illessesf:
(2) Heart	—	.54	—	—	—	—
(3) High blood pressure	—	—	.22	—	—	—
(4) Diabetes	—	—	—	.03	—	—
(5) Arthritis	—	—	—	—	.38	—
(6) Respiratory disease	—	—	—	—	—	.55
(7) Kidney	—	—	—	—	—	—
(8) Stomach	—	—	—	—	—	—
(9) Teeth/Gums	—	—	—	—	—	—
(10) Vision	—	—	—	—	—	—
(11) Hearing	—	—	—	—	—	—
(12) Circulation trouble in arms or legs	—	—	—	—	—	—
Adjusted R2	.308	.308	.308	.309	.308	.307
Variables	Regression Equations
	7	8	9	10	11	12
Age	.02	.02	.02	.02	.02	.02
Sex (male)	−1.86*	−1.82*	−1.78*	−1.78*	−1.90*	−1.78*
Marital status (married)	.60	.63	.63	.61	.63	.50
Education (actual years)	−.16*	−.16*	−.16*	−.16*	−.16*	−.15*
Financial straina	−1.20**	−1.20**	−1.20**	−1.20**	−1.26**	−1.23**
Life eventsb	1.15**	1.14**	1.14**	1.13**	1.16**	1.11**
Self-perceptionc	1.03**	1.03**	1.03**	1.04**	1.06**	1.03**
Social support/Children	−.47	−.51	−.49	−.50	−.51	−.48
Social support/Friendsd	−1.54**	−1.56**	−1.53**	−1.55**	−1.55**	−1.57**
Social support/Siblings	−.51	−.52	−.53	−.53	−.55	−.49
Instrumental supportd	−1.48**	−1.46**	−1.46**	−1.47**	−1.50**	−1.53**
Social support/Confidants	−.48	−.49	−.49	−.46	−.48	−.51
Total number of illnesses	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total illnesses excepte	.72**	.80**	.91**	.80**	.78**	.54**
Isolated illnessesf:
(2) Heart	—	—	—	—	—	—
(3) High blood pressure	—	—	—	—	—	—
(4) Diabetes	—	—	—	—	—	—
(5) Arthritis	—	—	—	—	—	—
(6) Respiratory disease	—	—	—	—	—	—
(7) Kidney	3.12**	—	—	—	—	—
(8) Stomach	—	1.19	—	—	—	—
(9) Teeth/Gums	—	—	.27	—	—	—
(10) Vision	—	—	—	1.40*	—	—
(11) Hearing	—	—	—	—	.40	—
(12) Circulation trouble in arms and legs	—	—	—	—	—	2.11*
Adjusted R2	.311	.308	.309	.311	.301	.312

Note. A dash indicates that the variable was not included in the regression equation.

^aA negative regression coefficient indicates that those with more financial problems (low score on scale) are more likely to be depressed.

^bA positive regression coefficient indicates that those with a higher number of stressful life events are more likely to be depressed.

^cA positive regression coefficient indicates that those with a positive self-perception (a low score on the scale) are less likely to be depressed.

^dA negative regression coefficient indicates that those with less of the specified type of support are more likely to suffer from depression.

^e“Total Illnesses Except” refers to the inclusion of all illnesses except for one specific illness in the order in which they are listed under Isolated IIlnesses.

^fEach illness under Isolated Illnesses was investigated in separate regression analyses (2–12) in the order in which they are listed.

^*p <.01;

^**p <.001.