The role of physical health on the relationship between subjective memory complaints, anxiety, and depression in older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

BackgroundResearch demonstrates that subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are associated with anxiety and depression; however, few studies have longitudinally examined the relationship between SMCs and new onset of anxiety and depression symptoms in older adults. In the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, it is also important to consider how existing health conditions may impact these associations. We examined (1) if SMCs predict new onset of anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic in older adults and (2) if physical health problems exacerbate this association.MethodWe performed hierarchical linear regression analyses to evaluate associations between SMCs and depression and anxiety symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic, controlling for age, sex, education, income, baseline anxiety and depression, and cognition. Next, we assessed the interaction between SMCs and health conditions on anxiety and depression symptoms.ResultSMCs (β= 0.021, p= .017) and health (β=.165, p<0.001) were directly associated with increased anxiety symptoms; however, the interaction effect was not significant (β=0.002, p=0.697). SMCs (β=0.006, p=0.493) and health (β=0.075, p=0.069) were not directly associated with increased depression symptoms; however, the interaction was significant (β=0.017, p<0.001).ConclusionSMCs and health problems exert independent effects on the development of anxiety symptoms; whereas the effect of SMCs on the development of depression symptoms depends on the presence of health problems. These findings highlight the role health plays in the development of depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults during societal stressors such as the COVID‐19 pandemic.