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-report measures, hierarchical multiple regression identified psychological and sociodemographic predictors of depressive symptoms. Results indicated that psychological well-being, the presence of existential meaning, and subjective happiness were significantly and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Well-being and presence of existential meaning emerged as the strongest independent predictors, while the search for meaning was not significant. Social support from children was associated with lower depressive symptoms, whereas living alone and receiving care from paid caregivers predicted higher levels. Additionally, advanced age and low income were identified as risk factors. These findings suggest that positive psychological resources, particularly well-being and existential meaning, serve as protective factors against depressive symptoms in later life.
ApostolouM.SamaraA.LajunenT. J. (2025). How people manage relationship problems: An exploratory study in the greek cultural context. Behavioral Sciences, 15(2), 218. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020218
2.
ArgyropoulosK.BartsokasC.ArgyropoulouA.GourzisP.JelastopuluE. (2015). Depressive symptoms in late life in urban and semi-urban areas of South-West Greece: An undetected disorder?Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(3), 295–300. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.166617
3.
Arias-MonsalveA. M.Arias-ValenciaS.Rubio-LeónD. C.Aguirre-AcevedoD. C.RengifoL. R.CortesJ. A. E.ArturoY. V. P. (2022). Factors associated with happiness in rural older adults: An exploratory study. International Journal of Psychological Research, 15(1), 70–83. https://doi.org/10.21500/20112084.5910
4.
BongelliR.BusilacchiG.PacificoA.FabianiM.GuarascioC.SofrittiF.LamuraG.SantiniS. (2024). Caregiving burden, social support, and psychological well-being among family caregivers of older Italians: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1474967. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1474967
5.
BrownT. L.OliffeJ. L.KealyD.RiceS. M.SeidlerZ. E.OgrodniczukJ. S. (2023). The influence of meaning in life on psychological distress among men: A serial multiple mediation model involving resilience and loneliness. Current Research in Behavioral Sciences, 4, 100114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbeha.2023.100114
6.
CaiH.JinY.LiuR.ZhangQ.SuZ.UngvariG. S.TangY. L.NgC. H.LiX. H.XiangY. T. (2023). Global prevalence of depression in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological surveys. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 80, 103417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103417
7.
DograS.DunstanD. W.SugiyamaT.StathiA.GardinerP. A.OwenN. (2025). Active aging and public health: Evidence, implications and opportunities. Annual Review of Public Health, 43, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth
8.
FlisbäckM.BengtssonM. (2024). A sociology of existence for a late modern world. Basic assumptions and conceptual tools. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 54(2), 229–246. https://doi.org/10.1111/jtsb.12416
9.
FosterL.WalkerA. (2015). Active and successful aging: A European policy perspective. Gerontologist, 55(1), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu028
10.
FountoulakisK. N.TsolakiM.IacovidesA.YesavageJ.O’HaraR.KazisA.IerodiakonouCh. (1999). The validation of the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in Greece. Aging (Milan, Italy), 11(6), 367–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03339814
11.
FurfaroE.PelleE.RivelliniG.ZaccarinS. (2024). Which support is provided in which country? Patterns among older adults in Europe. European Journal of Ageing, 21(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-024-00808-y
GeorgiouE. Z.PolitisA.KosmidisM. H.YannakouliaM.DardiotisE.HadjigeorgiouG.SakkaP.ScarmeasN.EconomouP.AlexopoulosP. (2024). Depressive symptoms in the entire spectrum of cognitive ageing in Greece: Evidence from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 28(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/13651501.2023.2296889
14.
GhasemiA.ZahediaslS. (2012). Normality tests for statistical analysis: A guide for non-statisticians. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10(2), 486–489. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.3505
15.
Gill ThomasM.AlvanF. R. (1994). A critical appraisal of the quality-of-life measurements. JAMA.
16.
GreenS. B. (1991). How many subjects does it take to do a regression analysis. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 26(3), 499–510. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327906mbr2603_7
17.
HutaV.WatermanA. S. (2014). Eudaimonia and its distinction from hedonia: Developing a classification and terminology for understanding conceptual and operational definitions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(6), 1425–1456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9485-0
18.
KambaraK.MatsumotoM.HakoS.ShigematsuJ.YokoyamaS.OgataA. (2023). An intervention to promote concrete thinking style in young adults: Effects on depressive symptoms and its protective factors. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 81, 101857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101857
19.
KimC.ChunJ. (2024). “Meaning in life” mediates the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare (Switzerland), 12(5), 584. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050584
20.
KouvatsouK.IliadouM.KalatziP.EvanthiaS.ChristosP.MariaK.TziaferiS. (2020). Depression among elderly users of open and closed care facilities in a rural region of Greece: An important public health issue. Materia Socio-Medica, 32(1), 35–40. https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2020.32.35-40
21.
LeeS. (2021). Social exclusion and subjective well-being among older adults in Europe: findings from the European social survey. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 76(2), 425–434. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa172
22.
LegrandR.NuemiG.PoulainM.ManckoundiaP. (2021). Description of lifestyle, including social life, diet and physical activity, of people =90 years living in Ikaria, a longevity blue zone. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126602
23.
LiC.XiaY.ZhangY. (2023). Relationship between subjective well-being and depressive disorders: Novel findings of cohort variations and demographic heterogeneities. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1022643. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1022643
24.
LitwinH. (2010). Social networks and well-being: A comparison of older people in Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 65 B(5), 599–608. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp104
25.
LuchesiB. M.de OliveiraN. A.de MoraisD.de Paula PessoaR. M.PavariniS. C. I.ChagasM. H. N. (2018). Factors associated with happiness in the elderly persons living in the community. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 74, 83–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2017.10.006
26.
LyrakosG. N.DamigosD.MavreasV.GeorgiaK.DimoliatisI. D. K. (2010). A translation and validation study of the life orientation test revised in the Greek speaking population of nurses among three hospitals in Athens and Ioannina. Social Indicators Research, 95(1), 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9453-6
27.
LyubomirskyS.LepperH. S. (1999). A measure of subjective happiness: Preliminary reliability and construct validation. Social Indicators Research, 46(2), 137–155. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006824100041
28.
Man-GingC. I.Öven UslucanJ.FrickE.BüssingA.FeggM. J. (2019). Meaning in life of older adults living in residential and nursing homes. Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging, 31(3), 305–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528030.2018.1529648
29.
MariolisA.FoscolouA.TyrovolasS.PiscopoS.ValacchiG.TsakountakisN.ZeimbekisA.BountzioukaV.GotsisE.MetallinosG.TyrovolaD.TurJ. A.MatalasA. L.LionisC.PolychronopoulosE.PanagiotakosD.MEDIS study group. (2016). Successful aging among elders living in the Mani continental region vs. Insular areas of the mediterranean: The MEDIS study. Aging and Disease, 7(3), 285–294. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2015.1002
30.
MartelaF.StegerM. F. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531–545. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2015.1137623
31.
MastersC.LewisJ. B.HagamanA.ThomasJ. L.CarandangR. R.IckovicsJ. R.CunninghamS. D. (2024). Discrimination and perinatal depressive symptoms: The protective role of social support and resilience. Journal of Affective Disorders, 354, 656–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.03.039
32.
MorenoA.Vicente-VirsedaJ. A. (2016). Well-being and living arrangement of elderly people from European comparative perspective. Research on Ageing and Social Policy, 4(2), 96–127. https://doi.org/10.17583/rasp.2016.2048
33.
NairP.BhanuC.FrostR.BuszewiczM.WaltersK. R. (2020). A Systematic Review of Older Adults’ Attitudes Towards Depression and Its Treatment. Gerontologist, 60(1), E93–E104. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnz048
34.
ÖzlüÖ.DuranS. (2025). Successful aging and happiness level in the elderly: The mediating role of general self-efficacy. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17711
35.
PapadopoulosF. C.PetridouE.ArgyropoulouS.KontaxakisV.DessyprisN.AnastasiouA.KatsiardaniK. P.TrichopoulosD.LyketsosC. (2005). Prevalence and correlates of depression in late life: A population based study from a rural Greek town. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(4), 350–357. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1288
36.
PapanasN.TsapasA.PapatheodorouK.PapazoglouD.BekiariE.SariganniM.PaletasK.MaltezosE. (2010). Glycaemic control is correlated with well-being index (WHO-5) in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes, 118(6), 364–367. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0029-1243623
37.
ParkC. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 257–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018301
38.
PezirkianidisC.GalanakisM.KarakasidouI.StalikasA. (2016). Validation of the meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ) in a Greek sample. Psychology, 07(13), 1518–1530. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.713148
RyffC. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.57.6.1069
41.
RyffC. D. (2013). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1159/000353263
42.
RyffC. D.KeyesC. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719
43.
Sánchez-MorenoE.Gallardo-PeraltaL.Barrón López de RodaA.Rivera ÁlvarezJ. M. (2024). Socioeconomic status, loneliness, and depression among older adults: A cross-sectional study in Spain. BMC Geriatrics, 24(1), 361. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04978-3
44.
SeoE. H.KimS. G.KimS. H.KimJ. H.ParkJ. H.YoonH. J. (2018). Life satisfaction and happiness associated with depressive symptoms among university students: A cross-sectional study in Korea. Annals of General Psychiatry, 17(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-018-0223-1
45.
Silberman-BeltramellaM.AyalaA.Rodríguez-BlázquezC.ForjazM. J. (2022). Social relations and health in older people in Spain using SHARE survey data. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 276. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02975-y
46.
StegerM. F.FrazierP.KalerM.OishiS. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
47.
VolkertJ.HärterM.DehoustM. C.AusínB.CanutoA.Da RonchC.SulingA.GrassiL.MunozM.Santos-OlmoA. B.SehnerS.WeberK.WegscheiderK.WittchenH. U.SchulzH.AndreasS. (2019). The role of meaning in life in community-dwelling older adults with depression and relationship to other risk factors. Aging & Mental Health, 23(1), 100–106. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1396576
48.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Active ageing: A policy framework. https://www.who.int/hpr/
49.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Depressive disorder. WHO.
50.
YesavageJ. A.SheikhJ. I. (1986). Geriatric depression scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontologist, 5(1–2), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1300/J018v05n01_09
51.
Yousefi AfrashtehM.MajzoobiM. R.JanjaniP.ForstmeierS. (2024). The relationship between the meaning of life, psychological well-being, self-care, and social capital, with depression and death anxiety in the elderly living in nursing homes: The mediating role of loneliness. Heliyon, 10(9), Article e30124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30124
