Factores Psicosociales Asociados a la Depresión en Adultos Mayores Latinoamericanos: Una Revisión Sistemática

The sustained increase in the older adult population in Latin America poses significant public health challenges, particularly in relation to mental disorders such as depression. This study conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) with the aim of analyzing the prevalence of depression in older adults and its relationship with psychosocial factors that affect mental health. The bibliographic search was carried out in May 2025 across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO databases, using Boolean operators (AND, OR) and search terms in both English and Spanish. The selection strategy included four stages: identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. From an initial 2134 records, after removing duplicates and applying inclusion criteria (age ≥65, studies in English or Spanish, observational design, and analysis of psychosocial and depressive variables), a total of 16 studies were included. A structured data extraction spreadsheet captured key variables such as country, sample size, methodology, instruments, and findings. The results revealed a wide range in depression prevalence (14.5%–74.5%), with higher rates in women, individuals with low education levels, functional dependence, poor nutrition, and limited social support. Significant inverse correlations were reported between depression and emotional support, autonomy, family functioning, and quality of life. This review highlights the need for validated screening tools and biopsychosocial, interdisciplinary, and culturally contextualized approaches to improve mental health in older adults. Findings support integrated prevention strategies across Latin America.