Meaning in Life, Happiness, and Well-Being as Protective Factors Against Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Theodosios Paralikas, Ioanna Dimitriadou, Theodora Plataniti, Evangelos C. Fradelos, Aikaterini Toska, Foteini Malli, Georgios Tsioumanis, Maria Saridi, Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly, Laboratory of Clinical Nursing, Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly, Respiratory Disorders Laboratory, Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly

Journal of Applied Gerontology

Published online on October 10, 2025

Abstract

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Volume 45, Issue 9, Page 1761-1771, September 2026.
This cross-sectional study examined the associations between existential meaning, subjective happiness, psychological well-being, and depressive symptoms in 181 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) living in rural Greece. Using validated self-...