Mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between self-neglect and frailty among older adults

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of psychological resilience between self-neglect and frailty in older adults. METHODS: Based on the data of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2018, we selected 7094 eligible valid samples. Descriptive analysis, partial correlation analysis, linear regression, and mediation effect analysis were applied to examine the mediating role of psychological resilience in self-neglect and frailty in older adults. RESULTS: Psychological resilience was negatively correlated with self-neglect (r = -0.142, P<0.001). Psychological resilience was negatively correlated with frailty index (r = -0.187, P<0.001). Self-neglect was positively correlated with frailty index (r = 0.243, P<0.001). Self-neglect and psychological resilience significantly impacted frailty (β = 0.199, P < 0.001; β = -0.135, P < 0.001). Psychological resilience partially mediated the effect of self-neglect on frailty in older adults (β = 0.020, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Psychological resilience mediates the relationship between self-neglect and frailty in older adults, and enhancing psychological resilience can help mitigate the negative effects of self-neglect on frailty. Taking measures to improve the level of psychological resilience of the elderly is helpful to reduce the degree of frailty and promote the physical and mental health of the elderly.