Depression in older adults: Testing the behavioral model of onset and maintenance

Depression is the most common mental disorder in older adults, yet it often remains underrecognized and undertreated despite its serious consequences. This study tested the behavioral model of depression in older adults, using a framework synthesized from the original model and recent systematic reviews. It also incorporated developmentally specific constructs, particularly ego integrity, or meaning in life. A total of 215 older adults (M = 73.6; SD = 5.83; 31% male) completed questionnaires measuring model variables. The original model was not supported, as it did not fit the data. Further analysis revealed predictors explaining 61% of depression variance: emotion-oriented coping, lower avoidant coping, lower social support, lower socio-economic status, lower meaning in life, greater acute impairment, and more sleep disturbances. Findings offer clinically relevant insights for improving intervention strategies in late-life depression, emphasizing the value of addressing meaning in life, coping styles, and functional impairment in therapeutic practice.