Depression and Hardiness and their Association with Appetite in Older Adults

Abstract

BackgroundPoor appetite leads to increased morbidity in older adults, and can be influenced by many factors, including chronic disease and depression. However, the direction of influence of depression on appetite is unclear in this population. Hardiness is believed to be another risk factor that may influence appetite in older adults, and is defined as an ability to manage stress and having a positive outlook on life.PurposeThe aim of this research is to examine the associations of hardiness, depression, and emotional well‐being with appetite in older adults.MethodsA survey evaluating hardiness, depression and appetite was administered to 292 adults (≥60 years) in assisted‐living facilities or attending senior centers in the Washington D.C. area.ResultsIn univariate models, depression, hardiness, and emotional well‐being are associated with appetite. Fair/poor emotional well‐being increases risk for poor appetite (OR=5.13, 95% CI: 2.47‐10.67) whereas commitment (a dimension of hardiness which indicates an individual's involvement in life) is inversely associated with risk of poor appetite (OR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.68‐0.95). Both variables emerged as the strongest predictors of appetite in multivariate models.ImplicationsThese strong associations may further elucidate the components of mental health which contribute to poor appetite in this population. Funding provided by: ADA HADPGGrant Funding SourceADA HADPG Student Research Award