Perceived Stress and Depression in Aging: The Moderating Role of Social Support and Number of Children

Aging is a stage of life that can be particularly vulnerable to the onset of depressive symptoms due to physical, psychological, and social changes that may increase stress levels, a known risk factor for this disorder. This study examines how social support and related variables can moderate the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in older adults. The sample consisted of 50 participants with a mean age of 65.48 years (74.5% women). The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (Duke-UNC-11) were used. Results indicated that higher perceived stress was significantly associated with greater depressive symptomatology. While having a partner and the number of cohabitants showed no effect, social support and the number of children moderated the stress-depression relationship. Specifically, higher levels of social support weakened the association between stress and depression, to the point of dissipating it at the highest levels of support. Similarly, having more than three children also mitigated the impact of stress on depression scores. These findings suggest that social support and larger families could play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of perceived stress on depressive symptoms in older adults. Interventions aimed at improving social support and family dynamics may enhance emotional well-being and promote better brain health during aging.