The Relationship Between Quality of Life and Depressive Symptoms Among Jordanian Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and quality of life among Jordanian community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was used. A convenience sample (N = 602) was selected to recruit the participants in the Amman governorate during the period from August to November 2021.

Results: Findings demonstrated that the mean (SD) age of older adults was 67.5 (7.0) years and 51.5% of participants were females. Also, 54.1% of the participants experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms with a total mean (SD) score was 8.57 on a scale of 0 to 15, while the mean (SD) for the quality of life scale was 12.12 (3.85) on a scale of 4 to 20. Significant differences existed in quality of life and depressive symptoms based on marital status (p < .001), educational level (p < .001), working status (p < .01), income (p < .001), and chronic disease (p < .01). Quality of life and its domains were negatively associated with depressive symptoms (B= - 0.596, p < .001). Also, marital status, working, educational level, income, and chronic disease were associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Strategies to improve quality of life should be promoted to minimize depressive symptoms among older adults and consider significant demographic factors.