The aging population has been observed in many countries worldwide. As the aging population increases, depression has become a significant public health concern among older adults, particularly those living in rural areas with limited access to healthcare and psychosocial resources. Healthy aging activities, including physical, social, cognitive, and recreational, have been shown to have a protective effect on depression in older adults. However, little is known about how these activities function in rural areas. Therefore, the main objective of this scoping review is to systematically map existing research on healthy aging activities and their association with depression among older adults. A scoping review was performed on studies retrieved from databases such as Google Scholar, Embase, CINAHL, and PubMed published from 2015 to 2025. The researcher used Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Inclusion criteria were studies examining the connection between depression and activity engagement, rural populations, and older adults (≥60 years old) living in the community. Out of 2,400, only five articles satisfied the inclusion requirements. The results consistently showed that older adults who participated in family, social interaction, outdoor activities, physical exercise, and religion had fewer depression symptoms. Furthermore, it was discovered that socially integrated and structured activities were more protective than solitary or self-directed exercise, and that engaging in various activity domains improved mental health over time. The results highlight the need to create community initiatives that support socially integrated and easily accessible activities for the elderly, particularly in rural communities.

Authors:
Mylene Sacro, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Asmidawati Ashari, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Zainal Madon, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

About the Presenter(s)
Mylene G. Sacro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, Central Luzon State Univerisity, Philippines where she teaches undergraduate courses. Her research interests include mental heath and developmental psychology.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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