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Wen Z, Wang H, Liang Q, Liu L, Zhang W, Zhang X. Mediating effect of social support and resilience between loneliness and depression in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analytic structural equation modeling. J Affect Disord 2024; 365:246-257. [PMID: 39147150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness is a powerful stressor for depression in older adults, and resilience and social support may mediate this relationship, while the evidence is limited. Hence, our study aims to explore the mediating role of social support and resilience between loneliness and depression and to test possible moderators. METHODS We searched 12 databases without language and publish time restrictions and obtained the correlation coefficients. This review constructed two-stage meta-analytical structural equality modeling (MASEA) to test the mediating effect of social support and resilience. Additionally, use one-stage MASEA to test the moderator effect of women proportion, published year, and country of study. RESULTS This study included 53 studies and 40, 929 older adults. Loneliness directly affected depression (β = 0.28, 95 % CI: 0.20, 0.36). Social support (β = 0.06, 95 % CI: 0.02, 0.09) and resilience (β = 0.15, 95 % CI: 0.12, 0.18) mediated the relationship. The proportion of women in the sample was moderator (χ2(5) = 11.10, p = 0.05). When the proportion exceeded 60 %, the path coefficient of loneliness and social support (β = -0.45, SE = 0.055) was larger than that of the subgroup below 60 % (β = -0.32, SE = 0.041). LIMITATIONS It was indefinite whether the evidence would be supported in longitudinal designs. Influenced by the original research data, it is impossible to calculate the model parameters of gender discrepancy. CONCLUSIONS Health aging policy-makers adopting social support and resilience intervention will help strengthen the coping skills of older adults confronting loneliness and reduce the risk of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei Wen
- Department of Dermatological, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Dean Office, Si Chuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingfang Liang
- School of Nursing, Chengdu university of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Linfeng Liu
- Dean Office, Si Chuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Dean Office, Si Chuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangeng Zhang
- Dean Office, Si Chuan Nursing Vocational College, Chengdu, China.
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2
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He Z, Zheng Y, Ni J, Huang J, Pang Q, Chen T, Muhlert N, Elliott R. Loneliness is related to smaller gray matter volumes in ACC and right VLPFC in people with major depression: a UK biobank study. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:11656-11667. [PMID: 37874025 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) are thought to have important roles in loneliness (feeling of social isolation/exclusion) experience or regulation and in the pathophysiology of their disturbance in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the structural abnormalities of these regions and the correlates with loneliness in MDD across the healthy population have not fully been clarified. The study analyzed the link between loneliness and gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the ACC and right VLPFC among 1,005 patients with MDD and 7,247 healthy controls (HCs) using UK Biobank data. Significant reductions in GMV in the right VLPFC were found in MDD males compared to HCs. MDD males also showed a higher association between loneliness and reduced GMVs in the right VLPFC and bilateral ACC than HCs. No such associations were found in MDD females. The findings suggest that loneliness may influence brain structures crucial for emotion experience and regulation, particularly in middle-older aged men with MDD. This highlights the potential adverse effects of loneliness on brain structure in MDD and suggests that social engagement could have a positive impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhong He
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Youcun Zheng
- School of Science and Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Jingxuan Ni
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jin Huang
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Qingqing Pang
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Tongtong Chen
- School of Humanities, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Nils Muhlert
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Elliott
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
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Hayslip B, Maiden RJ, Greil AL. Social and Emotional Loneliness: Their Relationship to Multiple Domains of Cognition in Later Life. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2023; 97:456-478. [PMID: 36476123 DOI: 10.1177/00914150221143961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the fact that the literature suggests loneliness to undermine cognitive functioning in later life, no work has simultaneously examined the relationships between these constructs taking a multidimensional approach to the assessment of each. The present study explored relationships among social and emotional loneliness and both general crystallized (Gc) and general fluid (Gf) ability, as well as to several indices of everyday intellectual functioning in later life. Sequential regression analyses suggested that neither social nor emotional loneliness predicted Gc. However, only when eliminating health as a covariate was more social loneliness associated with lower scores for Gf. Surprisingly, more emotional loneliness was associated with higher scores for Gf. More social loneliness also predicted more everyday cognitive failures and with less positive lifestyle attitudes. These findings support a view of loneliness-cognition relationships in later life that reflects the multidimensional nature of each construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Hayslip
- Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Robert J Maiden
- Department of Psychology, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA
| | - Arthur L Greil
- Department of Social Sciences, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA
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4
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Cardona M, Andrés P. Are social isolation and loneliness associated with cognitive decline in ageing? Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1075563. [PMID: 36909946 PMCID: PMC9995915 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1075563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poor health (immunity, inflammation, etc.) in ageing. The purpose of this scoping review was to investigate the link between social isolation, loneliness (as distinct constructs, in contrast to previous published work) and cognition in cognitively healthy older adults. Method We followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Our search, conducted between January 2017 and April 2021, yielded 2,673 articles, of which, twelve longitudinal studies were finally identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. Multiple cognitive functions (short-term and episodic memory, attention, and global cognitive functioning) were measured. Results The results showed that both social isolation and loneliness were associated with poor cognition in ageing, with depression as a possible mediator between loneliness and poor cognition. Some studies also suggested that the link between social isolation, loneliness and cognitive decline may be bidirectional. Conclusion We conclude that both social isolation and loneliness may have a different impact on cognition. While depression may be an important mediator between loneliness and cognitive decline, the lack of cognitive stimulation may be a greater mediator between social isolation and cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margalida Cardona
- Neuropsychology and Cognition Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Pilar Andrés
- Neuropsychology and Cognition Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Research Institute (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain.,Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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5
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Harrington KD, Vasan S, Kang JE, Sliwinski MJ, Lim MH. Loneliness and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Without Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 91:1243-1259. [PMID: 36617781 PMCID: PMC9983432 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness has been highlighted as a risk factor for dementia. However, the nature of the relationship between loneliness and cognitive function prior to onset of dementia is unclear. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in samples screened for dementia at study commencement. METHODS Five electronic databases (PubMed, PsycNET, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Scopus) were searched from inception to August 31, 2021. A narrative review and random-effects meta-analysis were conducted on studies meeting search criteria. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020155539. RESULTS The sixteen studies that met inclusion criteria involved 30,267 individuals, with mean age ranging from 63.0 to 84.9 years. Studies varied in dementia screening criteria, measurement of loneliness and cognitive function, and statistical modeling approach. The narrative review indicated that loneliness was associated with poorer global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, visuospatial function, processing speed, and semantic verbal fluency. Results of the meta-analysis indicated that loneliness was negatively associated with global cognitive function (overall r = -0.08; 95% CI = -0.14, -0.02; n = 6). Due to lack of sufficient data and heterogeneity between studies, we were unable to explore associations with other cognitive domains or longitudinal associations. CONCLUSION Loneliness is associated with subtle impairment across multiple cognitive domains in older adults who were screened for dementia. Better characterization of this relationship will provide important information about how loneliness contributes to the clinical and pathological sequalae of AD and be informative for risk reduction and early detection strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karra D Harrington
- Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia,Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Shradha Vasan
- Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Jee eun Kang
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA,Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA,Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Michelle H Lim
- Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia,Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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6
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A Systematic Literature Review of Loneliness in Community Dwelling Older Adults. SOCIAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci12010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on loneliness is extensive. This paper presents a systematic review of intervention studies, outlining the antecedents to, and consequences of loneliness in community-dwelling older people. Using PRISMA methodology, a systematic literature review was conducted between January and August 2021 resulting in 49 useable articles. Papers were included if they: (a) investigated older people (+50); (b) were living in community dwellings; (c) had been published in English; (d) had titles or abstracts available and, (e) were published between 2016 and 2021. This study found the antecedents and consequences of social, emotional and existential loneliness differ, however, the vast majority of research has not examined the unique types of loneliness and instead kept loneliness as a generic term, despite the acceptance that various types of loneliness exist. In addition, the findings of intervention studies identified through this review have yielded mixed results. Those interventions focused on improving personal and psycho-social resources for older people fared better outcomes than those focused on technological and social connections alone. This paper reports important implications for the future of research conducted on loneliness and interventions accordingly.
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7
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Zeng M, Chen S, Zhou X, Zhang J, Chen X, Sun J. The relationship between physical exercise and mobile phone addiction among Chinese college students: Testing mediation and moderation effects. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1000109. [PMID: 36262440 PMCID: PMC9574398 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1000109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, suspensions of activities and long periods of self-isolation led to a sharp increase in excessive use of mobile phones, which sparked public concern about mobile phone addiction (MPA). In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to physical exercise as a protective effect of MPA. However, more studies are needed to reveal this relationship and the exact mechanisms, based on which this study tested the mediating and moderating roles of self-control, rumination, psychological distress, and loneliness between physical exercise and MPA. Methods In this cross-sectional study, primary data was collected by questionnaire from 1,843 college students (19.75 ± 1.3) from five universities in Sichuan Province in Mainland China. Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS), Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), Self-Control Scale (SCS), Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-20) were investigated. The mediating models were examined using SPSS PROCESS macro 3.3 software, in which the mediation variables were self-control, rumination, and psychological distress, and the moderation was loneliness. Gender, major, and grade were included as control variables. Result Self-control, rumination, and psychological distress played a simple mediating role between physical exercise and MPA. Moreover, not only self-control and rumination but also self-control and psychological distress played the chain mediating roles between physical exercise and MPA. The chain pathways were moderated by loneliness. Specifically, the effect was more substantial among college students with higher loneliness. Conclusion The conclusions corroborate and clarify that self-control, rumination, and psychological distress mediated the association between physical exercise and MPA, and the mediation effects were moderated via loneliness. This present study advanced our understanding of how and when college students’ physical exercise was related to MPA. It also illustrates that educators and parents should pay more attention to college students’ physical exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaolin Zeng
- Institute of Sports Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Institute of Sports Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiangyi Zhou
- Institute of Sports Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jincheng Zhang
- Institute of Sports Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jingquan Sun
- Institute of Sports Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- School of Physical Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Jingquan Sun,
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8
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Yung ST, Chen Y, Zawadzki MJ. Loneliness and psychological distress in everyday life among Latinx college students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2021:1-10. [PMID: 34242538 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1927051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Changes in surroundings and social relationships may heighten feelings of loneliness, suggesting the need to measure as a state. This study tested whether loneliness fluctuates within and across days and the resultant associations with psychological distress. Further it tested familism as a moderator as endorsing this cultural value may buffer the negative effects of state loneliness. PARTICIPANTS Participants (n = 220) were Latinx undergraduate students. METHODS Students reported their loneliness levels and psychological distress twice a day for two weeks using an ecological momentary assessment approach. RESULTS Results showed that experiencing a higher than usual level of loneliness predicted greater sadness, stress, and anxiety at both the moment-to-moment and day-to-day level. Familism, measured at baseline, only moderated the relationship between loneliness and sadness. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest being in a lonely moment may lead to the initiation or amplification of psychological distress immediately and the effects may linger over the day.Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1927051.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Ting Yung
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, California, USA
| | - Yaoyu Chen
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, California, USA
| | - Matthew J Zawadzki
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California, Merced, California, USA
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9
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Sundström A, Adolfsson AN, Nordin M, Adolfsson R. Loneliness Increases the Risk of All-Cause Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 75:919-926. [PMID: 31676909 PMCID: PMC7161366 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbz139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To examine the effect of perceived loneliness on the development of dementia (all-cause), Alzheimer´s disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD). Method The study comprised 1,905 nondemented participants at baseline, drawn from the longitudinal Betula study in Sweden, with a follow-up time of up to 20 years (mean 11.1 years). Loneliness was measured with a single question: “Do you often feel lonely?”. Results During the follow-up, 428 developed dementia; 221 had AD, 157 had VaD, and 50 had dementia of other subtypes. The entire dementia group is denoted “all-cause dementia.” Cox regression models, adjusted for age, gender, and a baseline report of perceived loneliness, showed increased risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.89), and AD (HR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.20–2.37), but not VaD (HR = 1.34, 95% CI 0.87–2.08). After adjusting for a range of potential confounders, and excluding participants with dementia onset within the first 5 years of baseline (to consider the possibility of reverse causality), the increased risk for the development of all-cause dementia and AD still remained significant (HR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.01–2.25 for all-cause dementia; HR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.44–4.36 for AD). Discussion The results suggest that perceived loneliness is an important risk factor for all-cause dementia and especially for AD, but not for VaD. These results underscore the importance of paying attention to subjective reports of loneliness among the elderly adults and identifying potential intervention strategies that can reduce loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sundström
- Department of Psychology, Sweden.,Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research (CEDAR), Sweden
| | | | | | - Rolf Adolfsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden
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10
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Hu C, Chung PK, Zhang CQ, Gan Y, Hu R. Understanding of Resilience of Older Adults in Hong Kong: A Qualitative Investigation. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2020; 6:2333721420966904. [PMID: 33195741 PMCID: PMC7597569 DOI: 10.1177/2333721420966904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Resilience is an important trait for older adults facing adversity. This qualitative study aimed to identify the characteristics that contribute to resilience in a group of community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: Twenty-five Chinese older adults were invited. Interviews were conducted to collect information about the adverse events in their lives, their attitudes towards adversity and the beliefs underlying their approaches to overcoming adversity. The transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Seven themes emerged from the interviews: equanimity, positive attitudes towards life; meaningfulness, self-reliance, social support, environmental support, and spirituality and faith. Conclusion: Our qualitative analysis found that resilience among older adults in Hong Kong is characterized by internal, external and existential factors. The results may be useful for the development of proactive interventions aimed at assisting older adults to enhance the positive experiences in their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Hu
- Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shanxi, China
| | | | - Chun-Qing Zhang
- Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Rui Hu
- Administrative Committee of Educational Science College, Wuhan Polytechnic, Hubei, China
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11
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Kuiper JS, Smidt N, Zuidema SU, Comijs HC, Oude Voshaar RC, Zuidersma M. A longitudinal study of the impact of social network size and loneliness on cognitive performance in depressed older adults. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:889-897. [PMID: 30729792 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1571012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the association of social network size and loneliness with cognitive performance and -decline in depressed older adults.Method: A sample of 378 older adults [70.7 (7.4) years] with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition diagnosis of current depressive disorder were recruited from primary care and specialized mental health care. Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline and 2 years follow-up with the Stroop colored-word test, a modified version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Task and the Digit Span subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, encompassing four cognitive domains; processing speed, interference control, memory, and working memory. Social network size was assessed with the Close Person Inventory and loneliness with the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale at baseline.Results: After adjusting for baseline working memory performance, loneliness was associated with impaired working memory after 2 years [B = -0.08 (-0.17 to 0.00)]. This association was no longer significant after adjusting for age, sex, education level, physical activity, alcohol use and depressive symptom severity [B = -0.07 (-0.16 to 0.03)]. A backward elimination procedure revealed education level to be the only covariable to explain this association. Loneliness was not associated with impairments or decline in other cognitive domains. Social network size was not associated with cognitive impairments or decline.Conclusion: Social network size and loneliness do not predict cognitive decline in depressed older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisca S Kuiper
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nynke Smidt
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Geriatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sytse U Zuidema
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hannie C Comijs
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Richard C Oude Voshaar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marij Zuidersma
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Negative emotions, which have a common, chronic and recurrent structure, play a vital role in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. In this study, loneliness as a negative emotion was considered to be a predisposing factor in depression. AIM The aim of this meta-analysis is to determine the effect of loneliness on depression. METHOD Initially, a literature scan was performed and all related literature was pooled together ( n = 531). Based on scales determined by the researchers, it was decided to include 88 studies in the analysis. This study obtained a sampling group of 40,068 individuals. RESULTS The results of using a random effects model for analysis showed that loneliness had a moderately significant effect on depression. None of the variables of study sampling group, type of publication and publication year were found to be moderator variables. CONCLUSION According to the results of the research, loneliness may be said to be a significant variable affecting depression. The findings obtained are discussed in light of the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evren Erzen
- 1 Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, Artvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey
| | - Özkan Çikrikci
- 2 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
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