Relationship Between Psychological Resilience, Perceived Stress, Depression, and Physical Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the physical and psychosocial factors of protection and vulnerability to successful aging. Method: This is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 458 community-dwelling older adults from 60 to 101 years old (M = 69.8). We administered a sociodemographic questionnaire, a questionnaire measuring 14 chronic diseases, the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D). Results: Correlations showed a convergent effect between a higher number of comorbidities and perceived stress (r = .368; p < .001) and depressive symptoms (r = .249; p < .001) and divergent with resilience (r = −.317; p < .001). Twelve diseases impacted on stress, with anemia (d = .75), tumors (d = .75), osteoporosis (d = .60), Low vision (d = .54), circulatory problems (d = .59), and respiratory diseases (d = .54) having the largest effects. Nine diseases impacted on depression, with heart diseases (d = .50) and anemia (d = .60) having the largest effects. Eleven diseases had effect on resilience, with the largest effects being hypertension (d = 47), anemia (d = .50), and osteoporosis (d = .47). Conclusions: Resilience and physical health are important in preventing psychological suffering in the elderly. Findings are in line with multidimensional models of successful aging that take into consideration physical and psychological factors. Public Significance Statement This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between physical and mental health, analyzing the role of psychosocial variables and physical illness in older adults living in the community. The findings contribute to both scientific research and the development of interventions aimed at healthy aging.