The chain-mediating roles of perceived family support and intrusive rumination in the relationship between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms among older inpatients

OBJECTIVES: To examine perceived family support and intrusive rumination as serial mediators in the relationship between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 603 older medical inpatients. Sarcopenia, perceived family support, intrusive rumination and depressive symptoms were measured by the enhancing SARC-F scale (SARCCalF), Family APGAR Scale, 10-item rumination response scale (RRS) and 5-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-5), respectively. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression showed that sarcopenia was negatively related to perceived family support, which was a protective factor for intrusive rumination. Elevated intrusive rumination was related to heightened depressive symptoms. The bias-corrected 95 % CI confirmed perceived family support and intrusive rumination as serial mediators linking sarcopenia to depressive symptoms. Structural Equation Modeling demonstrated the robustness of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived family support and intrusive rumination underlies the association of sarcopenia with depression. Interventions on depression among older adults with sarcopenia should address these mediators.