Comorbidity profiles in older patients last seen by mental health prior to suicide attempt.

OBJECTIVES: Suicide in late life is a public health concern. Determining profiles of psychiatric/medical comorbidity in those who attempt while engaged in mental health services may assist with prevention. We identified comorbidity profiles and their association with utilization, means, and fatality in a national sample who attempted suicide. METHODS: Using latent class analysis, all patients aged ≥ 65 from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare services (2012-2018) last seen in mental health prior to suicide attempt were included. Diagnoses and attempt data were obtained from VA and Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, VA Suicide Prevention Applications Network, and VA National Mortality Data Repository. RESULTS: 2,269 patients were clustered into three profiles, all with high probability of depression. Profiles included minimal comorbidity (50.4%), high medical comorbidity (28.6%), and high (psychiatric/medical) comorbidity (21.0%). Over half (61.7%) attempted suicide within one week of their visit. The class with highest comorbidity had lowest proportion of fatal attempts, while minimal comorbidity class had highest proportion. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients last seen in mental health prior to suicide attempt were characterized by depression and varying additional comorbidity and attempt-related factors. Findings have implications for risk assessment and intervention in mental health settings, beyond depression.

A Paucity of Data on Veterans 65 and Older and Risk of Suicide: A Systematic Review.

Older veterans are vastly underrepresented in studies that shape national suicide prevention strategies. This is of great concern because factors that impact younger veterans may not be as robust in later life. Although younger veterans have higher rate of suicide, the highest counts of death by suicide are in older veterans. However, it remains unclear from the extant literature what factors may influence increased or decreased risk of late-life suicide in veterans. The objective of this systematic review was to identify risk and protective factors related to suicide outcomes (i.e., ideation, attempt, death, or suicide-related behavior [SRB]) among older veterans. Furthermore, it offers data regarding future study directions and hypothesis generation for late-life suicide research and for informing potential intervention and prevention efforts in this area. We searched 4 databases from inception up to May 5, 2022. We screened 2,388 abstracts for inclusion and 508 articles required full text review. The final sample included 19 studies published between 2006 and 2022. We found five domains of factors studied (i.e., neuropsychiatric, social determinants of health, aging stereotypes, residential and supportive housing settings, and multifactorial-neuropsychiatric/mental health and physical health) with more risk factors than protective factors reported. Across the three suicide outcomes only neuropsychiatric factors were consistently identified as risk factors. Neuropsychiatric factors also comprised the largest group of risk factors studied. More innovative targets to consider for intervention and more innovative methods to predict suicide in late-life are needed. There is also continued necessity to design suicide prevention interventions for older veterans given lethality trends.

The relationship of frailty and disability with suicidal ideation in late life depression.

OBJECTIVES: Frailty and disability are commonly found in Late Life Depression (LLD) and have been associated with increased depression severity, health comorbidities and mortality. Additionally, physical frailty has been associated with suicide in later life, independent of presence of a mood disorder. The objective of our study was to assess the associations of physical frailty and functional disability with suicidal ideation, controlling for depression severity and demographic factors, in an older depressed sample. METHODS: This study used data from community-dwelling older adults with major depression. Eligible participants were ≥ 65 years old, completed measures of depression symptom severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 item; HDRS-24), current suicidal ideation (Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale; GSIS), and physical frailty/functional capacity measures. RESULTS: Participants were 88 older adults with a mean age of 71.5 (SD = 6.0) and 66% of the sample was female. Poorer performance on frailty measures of gait speed (B = .239, p = .003) and muscle weakness (B = -.218, p = .01) were significantly associated with higher levels of suicidal ideation, independent of depression severity and demographic factors. Functional disability was also significantly related to suicide ideation, specifically impairment in financial capacity (B = -.290, p = .008), social interaction (B = .408, p < .001), and communication skills (B = .373, p = .001). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that, in LLD, frailty and functional disability are significantly associated with higher levels of suicide ideation, independent of depression symptom severity.

Somatic and anxiety symptoms of depression are associated with disability in late life depression.

Objectives: To assess the relationships of somatic and anxiety symptoms of depression with functional disability in a sample of older adults with late life depression.Method: Data were analyzed from 78 older adults aged 65-88 with current major depression. Somatic and anxiety symptoms from the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were summed to create variables measuring severity of these symptoms. Other symptoms of depression were also assessed using the remaining items of the HDRS. Current physical health burden was assessed using the Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI). Disability was measured with the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) total limitation score. A linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association of somatic and anxiety symptoms with disability independent of other factors.Results: The model accounted for 26.6% of variance in disability, (F(6,51) = 3.1, p = .01). Somatic (B = -1.9, p = .004) and anxiety (B = -3.7, p = .04) symptoms of depression were significantly associated with disability. Other depressive symptoms and physical illness burden were not associated with disability.Discussion: In older adults with major depression, somatic and anxiety symptoms of depression are associated with disability. Identification and treatment to remission of these symptoms may improve functional outcomes among older depressed adults.

Depression Severity, but Not Cognitive Impairment or Frailty, is Associated with Disability in Late-Life Depression.

OBJECTIVES: Assess the relationship of cognitive impairment to disability, accounting for depression severity and frailty, among older adults with late-life depression (LLD). METHODS: Data were analyzed from 78 community-dwelling older adults with LLD and without dementia (age M = 71.9; SD = 6.1). Cognitive functioning was assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Depression severity was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS; cutoff ≥15). Frailty was assessed using several motor tests. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS) measured disability status. A linear regression analysis was performed to identify relationships of cognition, frailty and depression severity with disability. RESULTS: The average number of impaired cognitive tests was 2.0 (SD = 1.9), with 28.2% of participants showing no impaired scores. On average participants reported depression severity of 17.3 (SD = 3.6), and disability total score of 15.1 (SD = 6.9). The regression model accounted for 25.1% of the variance in disability, with only depression severity significantly predicting disability status. Burden of cognitive impairment and frailty were not predictive of disability in this sample. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, only depression severity was associated with increased disability. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings have implications for intervention in LLD, as depression severity may represent a more modifiable risk factor for disability.

Determinants of Suicide-related Ideation in Late Life Depression: Associations with Perceived Stress.

Objectives: Perceived stress is emerging as a potential contributing factor in suicide-related ideation in older adults. We hypothesized higher levels of perceived stress would be associated with increased self-reported suicidal ideation independent of depressive symptom severity.Methods: This study used data from community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 with a current diagnosis of major depression. Eligible participants completed measures of depression symptom severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 item), current suicidal ideation (Geriatric Suicide Ideation Scale), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale).Results: Participants were 225 older adults with a mean age of 71.4 (SD = 5.6). Sixty-five percent of the sample was female. Fifteen percent of the variance in suicidal ideation was accounted for by lower education (p = .03), male sex (p = .03) and higher current perceived stress (p < .001). Specifically, stress accounted for 12% of the variance.Conclusions: Perceived stress is an important avenue to increase identification of individuals with a higher risk of suicide-related ideation among older adults with a current diagnosis of major depression.Clinical Implications: Screening for perceived stress may allow for improved screening and prevention of suicidal activity in depressed older adults.

Impaired Financial Capacity in Late-Life Depression: Revisiting Associations with Cognitive Functioning.

OBJECTIVES: Impairment in financial capacity is an early sign of cognitive decline and functional impairment in late life. Cognitive impairments such as executive dysfunction are well documented in late-life major depression; however, little progress has been made in assessing associations of these impairments with financial incapacity. METHODS: Participants included 95 clinically depressed and 41 nondepressed older adults without dementia. Financial capacity (assessed with the Managing Money scale of the Independent Living Scale), cognitive functioning (comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation), and depression severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - 24) were assessed. T tests were used to assess group differences. Linear regression was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Depressed participants performed significantly lower on financial capacity (t = 2.98, p < .01). Among depressed participants, executive functioning (B = .24, p < .05) was associated with reduced financial capacity, controlling for age, gender, education, depression severity, and other cognitive domains. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underscore the importance of assessing financial capacity in older depressed adults as they are likely vulnerable to financial abuse even in the absence of dementia. It will be valuable to assess whether treatment for depression is an effective intervention to improve outcomes.

Latent Classes of Cognitive Functioning Among Depressed Older Adults Without Dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Use latent class analysis (LCA) to identify patterns of cognitive functioning in a sample of older adults with clinical depression and without dementia and assess demographic, psychiatric, and neurobiological predictors of class membership. METHOD: Neuropsychological assessment data from 121 participants in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-Depression project (ADNI-D) were analyzed, including measures of executive functioning, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial and language functioning, and processing speed. These data were analyzed using LCA, with predictors of class membership such as depression severity, depression and treatment history, amyloid burden, and APOE e4 allele also assessed. RESULTS: A two-class model of cognitive functioning best fit the data, with the Lower Cognitive Class (46.1% of the sample) performing approximately one standard deviation below the Higher Cognitive Class (53.9%) on most tests. When predictors of class membership were assessed, carrying an APOE e4 allele was significantly associated with membership in the Lower Cognitive Class. Demographic characteristics, age of depression onset, depression severity, history of psychopharmacological treatment for depression, and amyloid positivity did not predict class membership. CONCLUSION: LCA allows for identification of subgroups of cognitive functioning in a mostly cognitively intact late life depression (LLD) population. One subgroup, the Lower Cognitive Class, more likely to carry an APOE e4 allele, may be at a greater risk for subsequent cognitive decline, even though current performance on neuropsychological testing is within normal limits. These findings have implications for early identification of those at greatest risk, risk factors, and avenues for preventive intervention.

Differentiating poor validity from probable impairment on the medical symptom validity test: a cross-validation study.

AIMS: In neuropsychological evaluations, it is often difficult to ascertain whether poor performance on measures of validity is due to poor effort or malingering, or whether there is genuine cognitive impairment. Dunham and Denney created an algorithm to assess this question using the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT). We assessed the ability of their algorithm to detect poor validity versus probable impairment, and concordance of failure on the MSVT with other freestanding tests of performance validity. METHODS: Two previously published datasets (n = 153 and n = 641, respectively) from outpatient neuropsychological evaluations were used to test Dunham and Denney's algorithm, and to assess concordance of failure rates with the Test of Memory Malingering and the forced choice measure of the California Verbal Learning Test, two commonly used performance validity tests. RESULTS: In both datasets, none of the four cutoff scores for failure on the MSVT (70%, 75%, 80%, or 85%) identified a poor validity group with proportionally aligned failure rates on other freestanding measures of performance validity. Additionally, the protocols with probable impairment did not differ from those with poor validity on cognitive measures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite what appeared to be a promising approach to evaluating failure on the easy MSVT subtests when clinical data are unavailable (as recommended in the advanced interpretation program, or advanced interpretation [AI], of the MSVT), the current findings indicate the AI remains the gold standard for doing so. Future research should build on this effort to address shortcomings in measures of effort in neuropsychological evaluations.

Screening for Executive Dysfunction in Late-Life Depression: Utility of Trail Making Test and Self-Report Measures.

OBJECTIVE: Prior work suggests executive dysfunction (ED) on the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2 Initiation/Perseveration subscale (DRS IP) predicts poor antidepressant response in late-life depression. This study examined if either patient perception of ED or the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B) could identify patients with impairment on the SCWT or DRS IP. METHODS: Patients were 65 or older and had a diagnosis of major depression without dementia. Cognition was assessed with the TMT-B, the SCWT, and the DRS IP. A self-reported Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) subscale assessed patients' perceptions of ED. RESULTS: In 247 participants (mean age 71.3 years), the PDQ subscale was not associated with test performance. The sensitivity of the TMT-B in identifying impairment on the SCWT or DRS IP was low (35% and 23%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Neither the TMT-B nor self-reports are useful screening tools for ED on the SCWT or DRS IP.

Treatment With Chemotherapy and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adult Cancer Survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether treatment of cancer with chemotherapy, as compared with surgery and radiation, differentially affects cognitive functioning in older adults. DESIGN: Latent class growth analysis approach. SETTING: Health and Retirement Study. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (N=403) with a new diagnosis of cancer who were still alive 4 years after their diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cognition (degree of immediate recall and delayed recall of a word list). RESULTS: Findings indicated that 3 classes of cognitive functioning best fit the data, specifically high, middle, and low recall classes. Individuals treated with chemotherapy were significantly more likely to be in the high recall class, with no effect of receiving surgery or radiation. When interactions with demographic predictors were entered into the model, an Age × Treatment interaction was present such that individuals younger than 80 years were more likely to both receive chemotherapy and have high recall cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Three distinct classes of cognitive functioning emerged in older adults with cancer. Treatment with chemotherapy predicted likely membership in the high recall class in this sample of cancer survivors; however, this was due to an Age × Treatment interaction. Implications for understanding cognitive sequelae of cancer in late life are discussed.

Depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning among older adults with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The US population of older adults is growing, with an increase in diseases like cancer. As cancer rates increase, there is a concomitant increase in adverse correlates, such as cognitive impairment and depressive symptomatology. In order to develop appropriate interventions, it is vital to assess relationships among cancer, depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning. METHODS: The sample consisted of 403 older adults with cancer diagnoses from the Health and Retirement Study. Using latent class growth analysis, longitudinal data were explored. The goals were to investigate trajectories of cognitive functioning, and to identify whether depressive symptoms and demographic factors predicted membership in the cognitive classes. RESULTS: Three classes of cognitive functioning best fit the data: High, Middle and Low Recall, fairly stable trajectories from pre-diagnosis to a period four years after diagnosis. More depressive symptoms after diagnosis (but not prior) significantly predicted membership in the Low Recall class. Depressive symptoms did not distinguish between the High and Middle Recall classes. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptomatology is thought to affect cognition in late life. We found that depressive symptoms after a cancer diagnosis, but not before, successfully differentiated between those who had Low Recall from those with Middle and High Recall. Implications are discussed.

Psychological predictors of eating pathology in older adult women.

Eating pathology is generally considered to affect females during adolescence and early adulthood. However, in recent years, there has been an increased recognition that disordered eating occurs in middle-aged and elderly women and that the presentation is similar to that of eating disorders in younger women. In the research presented here, results of an Internet survey of older adult women (N = 245; aged 60-90 years) indicate that the factors significantly associated with eating pathology-perfectionism, depression, and sociocultural pressures to be thin-closely parallel those reported for both younger and middle-aged women.

Religiousness and Psychological Distress in Jewish and Christian Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the authors explore how the association between religiousness and psychological distress varies by religious affiliation. Prior work has shown that the association between religious belief and psychological distress is stronger for Christians than Jews, while religious activity is associated with lower psychological distress for both groups. METHODS: Interviews were conducted using a community sample of 143 Christian and Jewish older adults, ages 65 and over. Quantitative measures were used to assess levels of organizational and intrinsic religiosity, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Christians who are highly involved in the organizational aspects of their religion report fewer depressive symptoms than Jews who have high levels of organizational religiosity, and the opposite is the case at lower levels of organizational religiosity. No significant group differences were found in the relationship between religiousness and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate a difference between Jews and Christians in the reasons that they turn to their respective religious services, particularly in late life.

Association of Frailty With Risk of Suicide Attempt in a National Cohort of US Veterans Aged 65 Years or Older.

Importance: Frailty is associated with reduced physiological reserve, lack of independence, and depression and may be salient for identifying older adults at increased risk of suicide attempt. Objectives: To examine the association between frailty and risk of suicide attempt and how risk differs based on components of frailty. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationwide cohort study integrated databases from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) inpatient and outpatient health care services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data, and national suicide data. Participants included all US veterans aged 65 years or older who received care at VA medical centers from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2013. Data were analyzed from April 20, 2021, to May 31, 2022. Exposures: Frailty, defined based on a validated cumulative-deficit frailty index measured using electronic health data and categorized into 5 levels: nonfrailty, prefrailty, mild frailty, moderate frailty, and severe frailty. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was suicide attempts through December 31, 2017, provided by the national Suicide Prevention Applications Network (nonfatal attempts) and Mortality Data Repository (fatal attempts). Frailty level and components of the frailty index (morbidity, function, sensory loss, cognition and mood, and other) were assessed as potential factors associated with suicide attempt. Results: The study population of 2 858 876 participants included 8955 (0.3%) who attempted suicide over 6 years. Among all participants, the mean (SD) age was 75.4 (8.1) years; 97.7% were men, 2.3% were women, 0.6% were Hispanic, 9.0% were non-Hispanic Black, 87.8% were non-Hispanic White, and 2.6% had other or unknown race and ethnicity. Compared with patients without frailty, risk of suicide attempt was uniformly higher among patients with prefrailty to severe frailty, with adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.27-1.42; P < .001) for prefrailty, 1.44 (95% CI, 1.35-1.54; P < .001) for mild frailty, 1.48 (95% CI, 1.36-1.60; P < .001) for moderate frailty, and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.29-1.56; P < .001) for severe frailty. Lower levels of frailty were associated with greater risk of lethal suicide attempt (aHR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.12-1.28] for prefrail veterans). Bipolar disorder (aHR, 2.69; 95% CI, 2.54-2.86), depression (aHR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.67-1.87), anxiety (aHR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.28-1.45), chronic pain (aHR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.15-1.29), use of durable medical equipment (aHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25), and lung disease (aHR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06-1.17) were independently associated with increased risk of suicide attempt. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that among US veterans aged 65 years or older, frailty was associated with increased risk of suicide attempts and lower levels of frailty were associated with greater risk of suicide death. Screening and involvement of supportive services across the spectrum of frailty appear to be needed to help reduce risk of suicide attempts.

Comorbidity Profiles Identified in Older Primary Care Patients Who Attempt Suicide.

OBJECTIVES: To identify comorbidity profiles of older patients last seen in primary care before a suicide attempt and assess attempt and clinical factors (eg, means and lethality of attempt) associated with these profiles. DESIGN: Cohort study and latent class analysis using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national data (2012-2014). SETTING: All VA medical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2131 patients 65 years and older who were last seen by a primary care provider before a first documented suicide attempt. MEASUREMENTS: Fatal suicide attempt and means were identified using the National Suicide Data Repository. Nonfatal attempt was defined using the National Suicide Prevention Applications Network. Medical and psychiatric diagnoses and other variables were determined from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Patients (mean age = 74.4 y; 98.2% male) were clustered into five classes based on medical and psychiatric diagnoses: Minimal Comorbidity (23.2%); Chronic Pain-Osteoarthritis (30.1%); Depression-Chronic Pain (22.9%); Depression-Medical Comorbidity (16.5%); and High Comorbidity (7.3%). The patients in the Minimal Comorbidity and Chronic Pain-Osteoarthritis classes were most likely to attempt fatally compared with classes with a higher burden of comorbidities. Overall, 61% of the sample attempted fatally, and 82.5% of suicide decedents used firearms. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that most comorbidity profiles (>50%) in primary care patients attempting suicide were characterized by minimal depression diagnoses and fatal attempts, mostly with firearms. These findings suggest that more than a depression diagnosis contributes to risk and that conversations about firearm safety by medical providers may play an important role in suicide intervention and prevention. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2553-2559, 2019.

Use of Latent Class Analysis to define groups based on validity, cognition, and emotional functioning.

OBJECTIVE: Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to classify a heterogeneous sample of neuropsychology data. In particular, we used measures of performance validity, symptom validity, cognition, and emotional functioning to assess and describe latent groups of functioning in these areas. METHOD: A data-set of 680 neuropsychological evaluation protocols was analyzed using a LCA. Data were collected from evaluations performed for clinical purposes at an urban medical center. RESULTS: A four-class model emerged as the best fitting model of latent classes. The resulting classes were distinct based on measures of performance validity and symptom validity. Class A performed poorly on both performance and symptom validity measures. Class B had intact performance validity and heightened symptom reporting. The remaining two Classes performed adequately on both performance and symptom validity measures, differing only in cognitive and emotional functioning. In general, performance invalidity was associated with worse cognitive performance, while symptom invalidity was associated with elevated emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS: LCA appears useful in identifying groups within a heterogeneous sample with distinct performance patterns. Further, the orthogonal nature of performance and symptom validities is supported.

Predictors of WAIS-R vocabulary in late life: Differences by race.

BACKGROUND: Vocabulary scores tend to be significantly related to education in heterogeneous groups of older adults, even after controlling for confounding variables. However, there may be other factors that impinge on cognitive functioning for certain demographic groups, particularly those whose educational opportunities were limited, and who may have experienced considerable stress as a result of their minority status. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to explore possible predictors of vocabulary scores among African American and White older adults. METHOD: In this study, samples of African American (N = 165) and White (N = 146) community-dwelling older adults reported their level of education, perceived health status, and number of stressful life events, and were administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Vocabulary subtest. RESULTS: Among the White participants, level of education was the only significant predictor of vocabulary score after controlling for perceived health and exposure to stress. Among African American participants, education was also a significant predictor of vocabulary score. However perceived health and number of stressful life events were also significantly predictors of vocabulary score. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that for certain cohorts of older adults, especially those who may have experienced stressful life circumstances and health disparities as a result of racial inequality, education may not be the only variable that predicts verbal intelligence. The importance of investigating cognitive functioning within a broader sociocultural context is discussed.

Do multiple health events reduce resilience when compared with single events?

OBJECTIVE: The impact of multiple major life stressors is hypothesized to reduce the probability of resilience and increase rates of mortality. However, this hypothesis lacks strong empirical support because of the lack of prospective evidence. This study investigated whether experiencing multiple major health events diminishes rates of resilience and increases rates of mortality using a large population-based prospective cohort. METHOD: There were n = 1,395 individuals sampled from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and examined prospectively from 2 years before 4 years after either single or multiple health events (lung disease, heart disease, stroke, or cancer). Distinct depression and resilience trajectories were identified using latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM). These trajectories were compared on rates of mortality 4 years after the health events. RESULTS: Findings indicated that 4 trajectories best fit the data including resilience, emergent postevent depression, chronic pre-to-post depression, and depressed prior followed by improvement. Analyses demonstrate that multiple health events do not decrease rates of resilience but do increase the severity of symptoms among those on the emergent depression trajectory. Emergent depression increased mortality compared with all others but among those in this class, rates were not different in response to single versus multiple health events. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple major stressors do not reduce rates of resilience. The emergence of depression after health events does significantly increase risk for mortality regardless of the number of events. (PsycINFO Database Record

Social Support, Mastery, and Psychological Distress in Black and White Older Adults.

Social support and mastery can protect against psychological distress in late life, carrying implications for theory and intervention. However, some groups have not been well studied, with African Americans receiving less empirical attention, especially in regard to their satisfaction with social support. In this study, samples of African American and White American community-dwelling older adults reported their perceived mastery, degree of psychological distress, and social support. A model investigating the separate relationships of these variables by race explained significantly more variance than a model for all participants combined. For both groups, mastery was significantly associated with lower psychological distress. However, among White Americans, social support was significantly associated with lower distress, while among African Americans, there was no relationship between satisfaction with social support and distress. The findings indicate that social support and mastery are important variables to consider in their relationship to psychological distress in later life and that diverse racial groups may display differing relationships among these variables.