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The Association Between Family Function, Mental Health, and Preparation for
Future Care Among Chinese Community-dwelling Older Adults

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Q. Ni and Y. Zhuang 1

Nursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China
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Background: Preparing for future care has potential advantages in positive aging. Still, research focused
on the mechanism by which family function affects preparation for future care has not been reported.

Objective: Guided by social cognitive theory, this study aimed to investigate the mediation effects
of mental health in the relationship between family function and preparation for future care among
Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024.
All participants completed a structured questionnaire containing the Family Adaptation, Partnership,
Growth, Affection, and Resolve (APGAR), the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies
Depression Scale (CESD-10), the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Chinese version of
Preparation for Future Care Needs (PFCN-14).

Results: A total of 543 older adults were recruited. Pearson correlation showed that overall preparation for
future care, awareness, decision-making, and correct planning domains was positively associated with
family function and life satisfaction, with weak-to-moderate correlations (r range 0.262 to 0.407, P<0.001);
whereas negatively associated with depressive symptoms, with weak-to-strong correlations (r range
-0.267 to -0.513, P<0.001). Multiple linear regressions indicated that participants who were women, older age,
highly educated, widowed, with more chronic diseases, higher family function, higher life satisfaction, and
lower depressive symptoms were associated with better overall preparation. The mediation effects of life
satisfaction and depressive symptoms on family function and overall preparation for future care,
awareness, decision-making, and correct planning domains were 36.36%, 42.41%, 36.20%, and 32.30%.
Poster Presentation Abstracts

Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of considering family function and mental health in
efforts to improve the preparation for future care of Chinese community-dwelling older adults. By
developing interventions that target these factors, healthcare providers can better support older adults in
planning for their future care needs and promote positive aging outcomes.

Keywords: preparation for future care, family function, life satisfaction, depressive symptoms,
mediation analysis

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Correspondence: Yiyu Zhuang, Nursing Department, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University
School of Medicine, China
E-mail: zhuangyy@zju.edu.cn

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