Rumination moderates the longitudinal associations of awareness of age-related change with depressive and anxiety symptoms

Abstract

Objective

Lower awareness of age-related gains (AARC-gains) and higher awareness of age-related losses (AARC-losses) may be risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms. We explored whether: (1) Baseline AARC-gains and AARC-losses predict depressive and anxiety symptoms at one-year follow-up; (2) age and rumination moderate these associations; (3) levels of AARC-gains and AARC-losses differ among individuals with different combinations of current and past depression and/or with different combinations of current and past anxiety.

Methods

In this one-year longitudinal cohort study participants (N = 3386; mean age = 66.0; SD = 6.93) completed measures of AARC-gains, AARC-losses, rumination, depression, anxiety, and lifetime diagnosis of depression and anxiety in 2019 and 2020. Regression models with tests of interaction were used.

Results

Higher AARC-losses, but not lower AARC-gains, predicted more depressive and anxiety symptoms. Age did not moderate these associations. Associations of lower AARC-gains and higher AARC-losses with more depressive symptoms and of higher AARC-losses with more anxiety symptoms were stronger in those with higher rumination. Individuals with both current and past depression reported highest AARC-losses and lowest AARC-gains. Those with current, but not past anxiety, reported highest AARC-losses.

Conclusion

Perceiving many age-related losses may place individuals at risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms, especially those who frequently ruminate.

Keywords:

• Mental health
• mood
• subjective age
• gains and losses
• prevention

Acknowledgements

This paper represents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. Obi Ukoumunne and Linda Clare were supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Availability of data and materials

This study was conducted using secondary data collected as part of the PROTECT ongoing study. PROTECT data are available to investigators outside the PROTECT team after request and approval by the PROTECT Steering Committee.

Author’s contribution

SS served as principal investigator of the research, designed the study, conducted data analyses, and took the lead in writing the manuscript. OU and FSR provided feedback on the analyses and draft of the manuscript. BD contributed to the interpretation of study results and provided feedback on the draft of the manuscript. AC, HB, CB contributed to data collection and design of the PROTECT study, and provided feedback on the draft of the manuscript. LC provided feedback on the draft of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Exeter College of Life and Environmental Sciences (School of Psychology), University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health, and the National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Cognitive Health [#1100579 to Kaarin Anstey]. This article represents independent research part funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London.