Resilience and Mental Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Testing the Moderation Model of Physical Activity and Religiosity

Abstract This cross-sectional study examined the role of resilience in influencing mental health (MH) among community-dwelling older adults, specifically testing a moderation model that incorporates physical activity (PA) and religiosity. The study included 1001 older adults (mean age 68.6 years, SD = 6.9) living in the Northeast region of Brazil. Based on the biopsychospiritual homeostasis model, we aimed to analyze a moderated moderation model to examine the interaction between resilience, religiosity, and PA in relation to MH. We assessed MH using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), measured resilience with the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and evaluated PA and religiosity, with perceived stress (PSS), gender, age, race, and years of education included as covariates in the model. Results indicated that resilience positively impacted MH. Additionally, the moderation model revealed that PA and religiosity jointly influenced the relationship between resilience and MH. Specifically, higher resilience was associated with better MH, and this association was further enhanced by engaging in PA three or more times a week and by higher levels of religiosity. Older adults with high resilience who did not engage in PA still experienced significant MH benefits. These findings highlight the importance of resilience in MH and demonstrate how PA and religiosity can moderate its effects, informing mental health promotion strategies for older adults.