연구성과

연구성과

논문

논문

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Journal Name International Journal of Nursing Studies
Title Frailty and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults: The mediating role of nutritional management
Author Jeong, G., Lee, H., Kim, B. & Lee, K.
DOI 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2026.105438
Abstract Purpose of the study: Although previous research has suggested various mechanisms linking frailty to depression, the influence of nutritional management remains insufficiently examined. This study aimed to examine whether nutritional management mediates the relationship between frailty status and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans. Frailty was measured with the Korean version of the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Weight Loss scale (K-FRAIL), nutritional management with the Determine Your Nutritional Health Checklist, and depressive symptoms with the Korean version of the Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale (K-SGDS). Multiple regression models with bootstrap confidence intervals assessed mediation, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates.

Results: Among 9,951 community-dwelling older adults (female 38.4%, male 61.6%), 26.5% reported depressive symptoms. In terms of frailty status, 32.3% were classified as pre-frail and 4.9% as frail. Compared to the robust group, both pre-frail (β =0.71, p b .001) and frailty (β =1.65, p b .001) groups were associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. Frailty was also associated with poorer nutritional management status (β = 1.96, p b .001), which was in turn associated with more severe depressive symptoms (β =0.25, p b .001). Mediation analyses revealed significant indirect effects through nutritional management for both the pre-frail (β =0.18; 95% CI: 0.15–0.22) and frail (β =0.49; 95% CI: 0.41–0.58) groups.

Implications for future nursing: These findings highlight the important role of integrating nutritional assessment and support into routine frailty screening and mental health care. Community- based programs that combine frailty prevention with nutritional interventions may mitigate depressive symptoms, promote healthy ageing, strengthen population-level preventive nursing strategies.
Publish 202605