Childhood psychological maltreatment, depressive symptoms, and death obsession in older adults: exploring the moderating effect of meaning in life.

Key Points

• This research aims to explore how childhood psychological maltreatment affects depressive symptoms and obsession with death in older adults, while examining the role of meaning in life.
• Analyzed the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression in older adults
• Examined how meaning in life moderates this relationship
• Used standardized psychological assessments
• Early psychological maltreatment is linked to higher depressive symptoms in older adults
• A strong sense of meaning in life decreases the negative effects of early maltreatment
• Participants with high meaning in life reported lower obsession with death despite past maltreatment