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. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):22248.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-07262-5.

Depressive symptoms as a mediator between sedentary behavior and social frailty among Chinese older adults in nursing home

Xiangkun Li  1 , Hongcai Zhu  1 , Peng Xu  1 , Zhenhua Guo  2
Affiliations

Depressive symptoms as a mediator between sedentary behavior and social frailty among Chinese older adults in nursing home

Xiangkun Li et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Limited research has investigated the direct or indirect effects of sedentary behavior on social frailty among elderly residents in nursing homes. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of depressive symptoms in the relationship between sedentary behavior and social frailty. A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling of 176 elderly residents from two nursing homes in Shandong and Jiangxi provinces. Data were collected using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Social Vulnerability Scale (HALFT), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0. The findings revealed positive correlations between sedentary behavior, social frailty, and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were found to mediate the relationship between sedentary behavior and social frailty. This investigation provides essential evidence regarding the role of depressive symptoms in the development of social frailty resulting from sedentary behavior. Healthcare providers in nursing homes should implement strategies to reduce residents' sedentary time, conduct regular depression assessments, and provide early interventions to minimize the risk of social decline among elderly residents.

Keywords: Depressive symptoms; Nursing home; Sedentary behavior.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The proposed mediation model.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mediating role of depressive symptoms in sedentary behavior and social frailty.
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