Negative Spontaneous Thoughts as a Mediator Between Rumination, Time Attitudes, and Depression in the Elderly: A Structural Equation Model

Objective: This study aims to examine how retrospective thinking (positive/negative past, past acceptance) and rumination contribute to depression in elderlies, with negative spontaneous thoughts playing a mediating role. Methods and Materials: This study utilized a descriptive-correlational research design and cross-sectional research approach, employing structural modeling. The research focused on elderly individuals in Tehran from July to October 2023 who resided in elderly care centers. A total of 114 elderly participants, including both men and women, were selected through convenience methods. Descriptive statistics were conducted using SPSS version 27, while data analysis and standard coefficients were computed using JASP version 0.18.1 software. The significance level set for the study was 0.05. Findings: The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between Rumination and Depression variables when considering the mediating role of negative spontaneous thoughts (β=0.026, p<0.001). Similarly, a positive and significant relationship was observed between Negative past and Depression when considering negative spontaneous thoughts as a mediator (β=0.030, p=0.026). The connection between Positive past and Past acceptance was not significant, with a p-value greater than 0.05. All the model fit indices were confirmed. The SRMR index value was 0.069 and the NFI was 0.796. Similarly, the Q2 values were above zero. Conclusion: The primary finding from the study suggests that addressing rumination and negative spontaneous thoughts, promoting past acceptance, and fostering positive thoughts can help alleviate depression in the elderly population. This highlights the importance of addressing mental health in the elderly population to improve their overall well-being.