Mental Health and Aging: Identifying Risk and Protective Factors of Anxiety and Depression in Older Women

TL;DR

This study identifies risk and protective factors for anxiety and depression in older women, including fear of falling and body fat as risks, and gait speed and muscle strength as protections.

Contribution

The study introduces a multidimensional approach combining clinical, functional, and electrophysiological factors to assess mental health risks in aging women.

Findings

Fear of falling and higher body fat percentage are significant risk factors for anxiety symptoms in older women.

Valence and gait speed act as protective factors against anxiety and depression in aging women.

Cortical excitation and expiratory pressure are protective against depressive symptoms.

Abstract

To identify risk and protective factors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms in older adult women, considering clinical, functional, and electrophysiological parameters.

This cross‐sectional observational study involved 91 women aged 65 or older. Assessments included EEG‐derived valence and excitation levels, motor reaction time, body composition, and functional performance. Anxiety and depression were screened using the mind over mood anxiety inventory and the geriatric depression scale, respectively.

Anxiety symptoms were present in 28.6% of participants and depressive symptoms in 27.5%. Risk factors for anxiety included fear of falling (OR = 2.023, 95% CI = 1.554–2.944, p = 0.007), presence of depressive symptoms (OR = 2.254, 95% CI = 1.983–3.085, p = 0.008), and body fat percentage (OR = 1.543, 95% CI = 1.253–3.111, p = 0.011). Protective factors included valence (OR = 0.311, 95% CI = 0.272–0.544, p = 0.003), gait speed (OR = 0.674, 95% CI = 0.482–0.782, p = 0.023), and maximal expiratory pressure (OR = 0.755, 95% CI = 0.693–0.823, p = 0.027). For depressive symptoms, risk factors included fear of falling (OR = 1.983, 95% CI = 1.865–3.801, p = 0.023) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.765, 95% CI = 1.563–1.983, p = 0.008), while protective factors were cortical excitation (OR = 0.523, 95% CI = 0.425–0.693, p = 0.023) and expiratory pressure (OR = 0.635, 95% CI = 0.491–0.723, p = 0.021).

Functional and emotional parameters, particularly valence and gait performance, suggest a potential protective role against anxiety and depression in aging women. The findings reinforce the importance of integrated assessments to support early detection and guide intervention planning, while further studies are recommended to strengthen these observations.

Older women with increased fat percentage, depressive symptoms, and slower motor reaction times are at higher risk for anxiety and depression. In contrast, valence, muscle strength, gait speed, and respiratory function serve as protective factors. These findings highlight key intervention targets to promote mental health and functional well‐being in aging.

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