The impact of Community Services on Geriatric Depression: A ten-year follow-up study

Abstract

Background This study explores whether the impact of environmental factors (Community Service) on Geriatric Depression is mediated by Psychological Resilience and moderated by the COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism. Methods Data were obtained from 13,512 Chinese individuals aged 65 and above, comprising a nationally representative sample from the 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The study employed a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) to examine the relationship between community service and geriatric depression, including the mediating effect of psychological resilience and the moderating role of the COMT Val158Met gene polymorphism in this relationship. Results Lower levels of community service at earlier assessments were significantly associated with more severe geriatric depression in subsequent evaluations.Psychological resilience was found to partially mediate the relationship between community service and geriatric depression.Differential impacts were observed among various gene genotypes; specifically, the Val genotype demonstrated a significantly greater influence of community service on subsequent psychological resilience and on subsequent depression compared to the Met genotype. Conclusion Enhancement in Community Service can predict subsequent Geriatric Depression. The influence of community service on depression is partly mediated by its impact on psychological resilience, with genetics modulating the pathway from community service through psychological resilience to depression. Multidisciplinary interventions focused on enhancing community service quality, boosting psychological resilience, and mitigating depression are likely to benefit the elderly's emotional and psychological well-being.