Positive spousal interactions as a mediator between perceived neighborhood disorder and depressive symptoms among married/partnered adults

• There is a lack of research on spousal interactions as a mediating mechanism linking perceived neighborhood disorder and depressive symptoms of midlife and older adults. • This study found the mediating role of positive spousal interactions as a psychosocial resource in the stress process among this population. Higher perceived neighborhood disorder was related to lower positive spousal interactions and higher depressive symptoms for both males and females. • The findings emphasize the importance of future research and interventions focused on protecting positive spousal interactions among couples living in stressful neighborhoods. This cross-sectional study aimed to test the mediating role of positive spousal interactions linking perceived neighborhood disorder and depressive symptoms and whether this model varied by gender. The current study analyzed 2008 married/partnered adults ages 50 and older from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study ( n = 1059 females and n = 949 males) using a full-information maximum likelihood structural equation model. Perceived neighborhood disorder was measured as a composite score of physical and social disorder, while depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D8 scale. The sample had a mean age of 66.7 years. Higher perceived neighborhood disorder was related to lower positive spousal interactions and higher depressive symptoms for both males and females. Lower positive spousal interactions were also associated with higher depressive symptoms for both genders. This study identified a significant mediation effect whereby one path through which perceived neighborhood disorder adversely affects depressive symptoms is through lower positive spousal interactions. This mediation effect was significant for both males and females. Results supported the mediating role of spousal support as a vulnerable psychosocial resource in the stress process theory. Implications for improving depressive symptoms in midlife and older adults living in stressful neighborhoods are discussed.