From place to mind: how environmental connection, loneliness, and family shape depression in older adults in Israel

To examine the direct and indirect effects of emotional connection to one’s living environment on depressive symptoms as mediated by feelings of loneliness, satisfaction with family relationships and frequency of family contact. A convenience sample of 360 older Israeli adults (representing three ethnic groups) was interviewed. Using bootstrapping, we tested the strength and significance of three simultaneous mediators’ conditional indirect effects on the relationship between one’s connection to living environment and depression. The results revealed a negative link between connection to living environment and depressive symptoms, mediated by feelings of loneliness, satisfaction with family relationships and frequency of family contact. The study indicates the vital role of connection to one’s living environment in determining depression in older adults as mediated by family contact, family relationships and loneliness. The study elucidates factors that can decrease older adults' depression and enable them to age in place.