Psychological resilience and psychological status among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

In aging societies, promoting psychological well-being among older adults is crucial. While psychological resilience is known to benefit mental health, less is understood about how external resources—specifically cultural and environmental resilience—influence psychological status (life satisfaction and depression) via resilience pathways in older populations. This study investigated these associations and their cross-sectional indirect associations through psychological resilience. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 508 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 in Wenzhou, China (July–September 2024). Validated scales measured life satisfaction (SWLS), depression (CES-D-10), psychological resilience (BRS), cultural resilience (Chinese Cultural Beliefs of Adversity Scale), and environmental resilience (community walkability). Control variables included demographics, health, and financial strain. Data were analyzed using correlation, regression, and mediation analysis (PROCESS macro, Model 4) with bootstrapping (95% CI). Psychological resilience partially mediated the relationships between both cultural resilience and environmental resilience with life satisfaction. Cultural resilience had a significant total effect on life satisfaction, with 28.9% of its effect mediated by psychological resilience. Environmental resilience’s total effect on life satisfaction was mediated by psychological resilience by 19.9%. However, psychological resilience did not mediate the relationships between either cultural or environmental resilience and depression. Psychological resilience serves as a significant mediator linking external resources (cultural and environmental resilience) to life satisfaction, but not depression, among older adults. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm causality.