The chain-mediating roles of perceived family support and intrusive rumination in the relationship between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms among older inpatients.

OBJECTIVES

To examine perceived family support and intrusive rumination as serial mediators in the relationship between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 older medical inpatients. Sarcopenia, perceived family support, intrusive rumination and depressive symptoms were measured by the enhancing SARC-F scale (SARCCalF), Family APGAR Scale, 10-item rumination response scale (RRS) and 5-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5), respectively.

RESULTS

Multiple linear regression showed that sarcopenia was negatively related to perceived family support, which was a protective factor for intrusive rumination. Elevated intrusive rumination was related to heightened depressive symptoms. The bias-corrected 95 % CI confirmed perceived family support and intrusive rumination as serial mediators linking sarcopenia to depressive symptoms. Structural Equation Modeling demonstrated the robustness of the findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived family support and intrusive rumination underlies the association of sarcopenia with depression. Interventions on depression among older adults with sarcopenia should address these mediators.