Work

Perceived criticism and depressive symptoms among adults aged 50 years and older: a 17-year population-based cohort study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Cross-sectional studies have shown that perceived criticism from families and friends is associated with depressive symptoms in older adults, but there is a lack of longitudinal studies to validate these findings and the association between specific types of family criticism and depressive symptoms is unclear. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal associations of perceived criticism from spouses, children, relatives, and friends with depressive symptoms in older adults.Methods: Four prospective cohorts were established to explore the associations of perceived criticism from spouses, children, relatives, and friends with depressive symptoms, respectively. Data were obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (waves 1–9, 2002–2019), including adults aged ≥50 years without depressive symptoms at baseline. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.Findings: Four cohorts included 8155, 9049, 9370, and 9736 participants, respectively. Compared with perceived no spouse criticism, perceived some (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.18–1.55) and a lot (2.24; 1.85–2.72) were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms, but perceived a little was not. Referenced with perceived no child criticism, perceived a little (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12–1.36), some (1.50; 1.33–1.68), and a lot (2.02; 1.62–2.52) were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms. The results of relative criticism and friend criticism were similar to those of child criticism. Sex moderated the association of perceived criticism with depressive symptoms. Sex-stratified analyses showed that perceived some and a lot of spouse criticism, as well as a little, some, and a lot of criticism from children, relatives, and friends were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms in females, but only a lot of criticism from spouses and friends, as well as some and a lot of criticism from children and relatives were associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms in males.Interpretation: Perceived some and a lot of spouse criticism was associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms, but perceived a little was not. Perceived criticism from children, relatives, and friends was related to higher risks of depressive symptoms, even a little. Females were more susceptible to criticism than males.Funding: None.

Source: Translational Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1038/s41398-025-03322-6