Association between activities of daily living disability and depression symptoms of middle-aged and older Chinese adults and their spouses: A community based study.

•Prevalence of depression symptoms increased with BADL scores in subjects themselves.•Prevalence of depression symptoms increased with spouse BADL scores in non-disabled subjects.•ADL disabilities were associated with higher risk of developing depression symptoms in subjects and their spouses.•There might be a threshold in the severity of disability to trigger the development of depression symptoms.