Effect of perceived stress on depressive symptoms among the elderly: the moderating roles of subjective cognitive decline and impermanence acceptance.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine whether subjective cognitive decline and impermanence acceptance would moderate the effect of perceived stress on depressive symptoms among the elderly.

METHOD: A total of 164 Chinese elderly (75% female; age: M = 71.42, SD = 5.14) participated in this cross-sectional study in July 2023. These participants completed a battery of measures for perceived stress, subjective cognitive decline, impermanence acceptance, and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Perceived stress was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Subjective cognitive decline was found to intensify the adverse effect of perceived stress on depressive symptoms, while impermanence acceptance was found to buffer such effect. In addition, the three-way interaction term (perceived stress x subjective cognitive decline x impermanence acceptance) had a significant effect on depressive symptoms. Specifically, impermanence acceptance played a buffering role in the detrimental impact of subjective cognitive decline on the connection between perceived stress and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Subjective cognitive decline may intensify the negative effects of perceived stress on depressive symptoms for the elderly, especially for those who had low levels of impermanence acceptance.