Thai older adults: depressive symptoms predicted later lower subjective life expectancy
In 5,259 Thai older adults followed over five biennial waves, within-person increases in depressive symptoms were associated with subsequent declines in subjective life expectancy; the reverse and links to function, exercise or skipped meals were not significant. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The study followed 5,259 older adults in Thailand across five biennial waves of the HART study from 2015 to 2024. [1]
Within-person increases in depressive symptoms predicted subsequent declines in subjective life expectancy (B = -0.336). [1]
Subjective life expectancy did not significantly predict later depressive symptoms, daily-activity limitations, exercise frequency or skipped meals. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Longitudinal observational cohort study using a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (abstract).
- Population / context
- 5,259 older adults in Thailand in the HART study, followed over five biennial waves (2015-2024).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 7, 2026
Thai HART cohort: five waves on expectations and distress
The study asked whether subjective life expectancy (a person's own estimate of how long they will live) is linked over time with depressive symptoms, limitations in activities of daily living, exercise frequency and skipped meals. It used longitudinal data from 5,259 older adults in Thailand across five biennial waves of the HART study, from 2015 to 2024. Analyses examined within-person pathways, meaning changes within the same person over time rather than differences between people.
Supporting source [1]
Depressive symptoms preceded lower subjective life expectancy
At the within-person level, increases in depressive symptoms consistently predicted subsequent declines in subjective life expectancy (B = -0.336). The reverse direction was not significant: subjective life expectancy did not predict later depressive symptoms. Subjective life expectancy was also not significantly associated with later limitations in daily activities, exercise frequency or skipped meals. A sensitivity analysis for potential dropout bias supported the stability of the main directional associations.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope: associations, not causes
These are observational associations from a cohort study, not proof of cause. The authors suggest psychological distress may be an important determinant of older adults' longevity expectations, but the abstract does not establish that treating distress changes expectations. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so details of measurement, model specification and limitations beyond those reported remain unseen.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Observational cohort data show associations, not causation, and the abstract does not report whether treating depressive symptoms would change subjective life expectancy.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Pengpid S, Peltzer K, Kaewchankha W, Siripanich P. · europepmc.org · October 7, 2026