Optimism and depressive symptoms following a diabetes diagnosis: Results from the Health and Retirement Study.

Depression is common among individuals with diabetes and contributes to poorer prognoses. Optimism is associated with enhanced mental health. Therefore, this study tested whether optimism buffered against increases in depressive symptoms following a diabetes diagnosis. Participants were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 328, Mage = 65.8). Optimism, assessed before diagnosis, was inversely associated with depressive symptoms within 2 (B = -.30, p = .004, ΔR2 = .02) and 6 (B = -.29, p = .008, ΔR2 = .02) years of a diabetes diagnosis. Results suggest that optimism is a protective factor for comorbid depressive symptoms.