The Psychosocial Dependency Scale (Rossman, Bloschl, 1982) was adapted on a sample of noninstitutionalized elderly persons (N = 158), and the final, short version of the scale was used in subsequent analysis. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed with the dependency scale as a criterion and sociodemograiphic, life satisfaction and psychological distress variables as predictors. The results showed that previous unemployment status, higher level of psychological distress and low education were the variables that most significantly accounted for the variation in the dependency scores. The developmental view of the concept of psychosocial dependency of the elderly is emphasized.
