Which categories of social and lifestyle activities moderate the association between negative life events and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults in Japan?

Background: Social and lifestyle activities may serve as potential moderators of the association between negative life events (NLEs) and depressive symptoms among older adults. In this study, we examined whether social and lifestyle activities moderate the association between NLEs and depressive symptoms among older adults, and which activities are significant moderators.

Methods: The data came from a community-based sample of non-institutionalized adults aged 65 years or older. Of the 731 eligible older adults, 682 completed the Japanese version of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale. We measured 15 specific negative life events as well as 17 social and lifestyle activities which were grouped into four categories.

Results: Specific NLEs pertaining to human relationships, physical condition and financial status were all or were mostly associated with depressive symptoms. Significant moderating roles of social and lifestyle activities on the association of NLEs with depressive symptoms were observed between "loss of a significant other" and "contact with family members and friends" (β = -0.282, SE = 0.091, p = 0.002); "change in human relationships" and "contact with family members and friends" (β = -0.270, SE = 0.137, p = 0.048); and "change in human relationships" and "community involvement" (β = -0.344, SE = 0.133, p = 0.010).

Conclusions: The most statistically significant variable moderating the associations between negative life events and depressive symptoms was "having frequent contact with family members". Depressive symptoms arising from troublesome interpersonal relationships in one's proximal network might be moderated by positive interpersonal relationships.