The current article examines the role of psychosocial factors in the relationship of life events and depression among older adults by focusing on a single "most important" life event. Using data from a random community sample of older adults, the study finds that although health-related events do exacerbate the level of depression resulting from an undesirable life event, their exclusion from the analysis still results in a significant relationship between non-health-related events and depressive symptomatology. Controlling for both types of undesirable life events, the study further documents that psychological resources are more effective than social resources in predicting subsequent level of depression for those experiencing health-related events. For those experiencing non-health-related life events, social resources are most important in predicting subsequent symptomatology. Implications are discussed.
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