ORIGINAL ARTICLE Moderating effects of psychosocial attributes on the association between risk factors and disability in later life Y. JANG, 1 W. E. HALEY, 2 J. A. MORTIMER 3 & B. J. SMALL 2 1 GerontologyCenter,UniversityofGeorgia& 2 DepartmentofGerontology,UniversityofSouthFlorida,& 3 InstituteonAging,UniversityofSouthFlorida,USA Abstract This study examined the roles of psychosocial attributes in the associations between potential risk factors (age, gender, marital status, education, and chronic conditions) and disability in later life, and in particular how neuroticism and social resources (social network, received support, and satisfaction with support) modify the linkages between risk factors and disability. The main and moderating effects were empirically tested using a sample of 444 community-dwelling older adults in Florida (M age ¼ 72.3) who were cognitively intact. The likelihood of disability increased with advancing age, more chronic conditions, higher levels of neuroticism, more received support, and less satisfaction with support. In addition to the main effects, neuroticism and received support interacted with age and chronic conditions, strengthening the associations between risk factors and disability. Results suggested that personality and social support deserve greater attention as factors that can alter the disability process. Introduction Disability has received a great deal of attention in gerontological research. As one of the key compo- nents of successful aging (Rowe & Kahn, 1997), the maintenance of high functional status is crucial to a long and healthy life for older adults. Disability has been reported to be associated with fewer social activities (Everard et al., 2000), greater need for supports or services (Johnson & Wolinsky, 1999), poorer quality of life (Liao et al., 2000; Roos & Havens, 1991), greater symptoms of depression (Bruce, 2001; Zeiss et al., 1996), and increased mortality rates (Reuben etal., 1992). Based on the original model by Nagi (1965; 1976), Verbrugge and Jette (1994) proposed a disablement process that addressed a variety of risk factors, internal resources, and external environments associ- ated with disability. Lawrence and Jette (1996) tested the main pathway in the disablement process that links pathology (diagnoses of disease or injury) and impairments (dysfunctions in bodily systems) to functional limitations (restriction in actions), and ultimately to disability (difficulty in performing activities in daily life). Their findings supported the hypothesized causal order and interplay among constructs in the disablement process. Although their study provided a better understanding of the dynamic disablement process, they did not take into account the potential impacts of psychosocial factors on the disablement process. Recently, Femia and colleagues (2001) reported that factors, such as depressive symptoms, subjective health, and social integration, influenced older individuals’ experiences with disability. More research needs to be done to explore the potential roles of psychosocial factors in disablement. Although disability is mostly determined by physical capability, psychosocial characteristics may play important roles in the manner in which disability is experienced and reported (Schulz & Williamson, 1993). Disability, defined as the levels of difficulty in performing activities in daily life, is more likely to be a subjective evaluation of ones’ own functional status rather than an objective indicator; therefore, there are potentials for psychosocial attributes to contribute. In parti- cular, psychosocial factors may explain why older individuals with similar risk profiles experience different rates of disability. Some psychosocial factors may protect older individuals from the progression of disability, while others may increase vulnerability to disability in the presence of disabling conditions. Exploring the role of psychosocial attributes in disability can identify risk-enhancing and risk-reducing factors, which are relevant to the development of effective prevention and intervention programs. Correspondence to: Yuri Jang, University of Georgia Gerontology Center, 255 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30602, USA. E-mail: yjang@geron.uga.edu Received for publication 8th July 2002. Accepted 5th November 2002. Aging&MentalHealth 2003; 7(3): 163–170 ISSN 1360–7863 print/ISSN 1364–6915 online/03/030163–08 ß Taylor & Francis Ltd DOI: 10.1080/1360786031000101111