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Li X, Tian Y, Chen H, Wang X, Li Y, Zhou J. The associations of social health, self-injurious thoughts and behaviors with or without childhood trauma: A UK biobank study. J Affect Disord 2024; 359:145-157. [PMID: 38772505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.077] [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: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood trauma was known to increase risks of social isolation, loneliness and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine the protect and risk factors of social health, self-injurious thoughts and behaviors between adults with or without childhood trauma. METHOD This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 145,043 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank. Childhood trauma was determined by the Childhood Trauma Screener. Social health included social isolation, loneliness and emotional support. Outcomes of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors included suicide ideation, suicide attempt and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Demographic data, self-reported morbidities and other confounding variables were covariates. Stata 17.0 and SPSS 27.0 was used to analysis data. RESULTS Compared with participants without childhood trauma, there was no protective effect of emotional support for NSSI in participants with childhood trauma (β-value difference = 0.334, p = 0.008). The risk effect of loneliness for suicide ideation, suicide attempt and NSSI were also weaker in participants experiencing childhood trauma (p<0.05). Social isolation was no longer a risk factor for NSSI in all participants, while loneliness remained as a threat (p < 0.05). LIMITATIONS Many variables were measured using core items of the scale in UK Biobank, meanwhile, the childhood trauma data collected in adulthood may have recall bias. CONCLUSIONS Adults reported childhood trauma were less vulnerable to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors when experiencing loneliness, but they could also not be protected from NSSI through emotional support. Emotional dysregulation caused by childhood trauma may contribute to this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuting Li
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yusheng Tian
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China; Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yamin Li
- Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Jiansong Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Shao L, Zhu X, Li DL, Wu L, Lu X, Fan Y, Qiao Z, Hou L, Pan CW, Ke C. Quantifying depressive symptoms on incidence of common chronic diseases and multimorbidity patterns in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 173:340-346. [PMID: 38579479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent and increase risks of various morbidities. However, the extent to which depressive symptoms could account for incidence of these chronic conditions, in particular multimorbidity patterns, remains to be examined and quantified. METHODS For this cohort analysis, we included 9024-14,093 participants aged 45 years and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and 13 common chronic diseases and 4 multimorbidity patterns. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) combining the information on both exposure prevalence and risk association were estimated to quantify the magnitude of the burden of these conditions attributable to depressive symptoms. RESULTS Depressive symptoms were associated with increased risks of liver disease, stroke, heart problem, asthma, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, chronic lung disease, digestive disease, dyslipidemia, and memory-related disease, and the adjusted HRs (95% CIs) and PAFs (95% CIs) ranged from 1.15 (1.05-1.26) to 1.64 (1.38-1.96) and 5% (0-10%) to 17% (6-28%), respectively. In addition, individuals with depressive symptoms had elevated risks of the cardiometabolic-cancer pattern, the cerebrovascular-memory pattern, the articular-visceral organ pattern, and the respiratory pattern, with respective HRs (95% CIs) of 1.26 (1.11-1.42), 1.34 (1.07-1.69), 1.45 (1.29-1.63), and 2.01 (1.36-2.96), and respective PAFs (95% CIs) of 5% (0-10%), 8% (-4-21%), 12% (7-17%), and 20% (5-35%). CONCLUSION Depressive symptoms contribute substantially to the burden across a broad range of chronic diseases as well as different multimorbidity patterns in middle-aged and older Chinese.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Shao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhu
- Suzhou Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Suzhou, China
| | - Dan-Lin Li
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Luying Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xujia Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yulong Fan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhengpeng Qiao
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Liying Hou
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.
| | - Chen-Wei Pan
- School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Chaofu Ke
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Lewis S, Willis K, Smith L, Dubbin L, Rogers A, Moensted ML, Smallwood N. There but not really involved: The meanings of loneliness for people with chronic illness. Soc Sci Med 2024; 343:116596. [PMID: 38246108 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116596] [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] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Loneliness is one of the most pressing and rapidly growing contemporary social challenges around the world. Yet we still lack a good understanding of how loneliness is constituted and experienced by those most affected. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 people with chronic illness who were experiencing loneliness to explore what loneliness means to them and how it impacts in their daily lives. Drawing on ideas around liquidity and performativity, we identified the relational, temporal and social layers of loneliness. Our analysis revealed the interconnectedness of chronic illness and loneliness in participants' daily lives, as well as how chronic illness shifts temporal orientation, and transforms interpersonal relationships and relationship with self, contributing to the experiences of loneliness. Though participants described the many social conditions that restricted their opportunities for social participation, giving them a sense of being left behind and spectating the social life of others, a rhetoric of loneliness as a problem and responsibility of the individual was still prominent. A narrative of the need to perform social connection emerged in the absence of meaningful social bonds with others. We argue that normative ideals of wellness and positivity circulating in chronic illness communities and society more broadly are implicated in the experience of loneliness for people with chronic conditions. We conclude by considering how more expansive representations of how to live well with chronic illness may be important in reducing personal and collective loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lewis
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Karen Willis
- Public Health, Institute for Health & Sport, Victoria University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lorraine Smith
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Anne Rogers
- University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Maja Lindegaard Moensted
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natasha Smallwood
- Central Clinical School, The Alfred, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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Foster HME, Gill JMR, Mair FS, Celis-Morales CA, Jani BD, Nicholl BI, Lee D, O'Donnell CA. Social connection and mortality in UK Biobank: a prospective cohort analysis. BMC Med 2023; 21:384. [PMID: 37946218 PMCID: PMC10637015 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03055-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Components of social connection are associated with mortality, but research examining their independent and combined effects in the same dataset is lacking. This study aimed to examine the independent and combined associations between functional and structural components of social connection and mortality. METHODS Analysis of 458,146 participants with full data from the UK Biobank cohort linked to mortality registers. Social connection was assessed using two functional (frequency of ability to confide in someone close and often feeling lonely) and three structural (frequency of friends/family visits, weekly group activities, and living alone) component measures. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. RESULTS Over a median of 12.6 years (IQR 11.9-13.3) follow-up, 33,135 (7.2%) participants died, including 5112 (1.1%) CVD deaths. All social connection measures were independently associated with both outcomes. Friends/family visit frequencies < monthly were associated with a higher risk of mortality indicating a threshold effect. There were interactions between living alone and friends/family visits and between living alone and weekly group activity. For example, compared with daily friends/family visits-not living alone, there was higher all-cause mortality for daily visits-living alone (HR 1.19 [95% CI 1.12-1.26]), for never having visits-not living alone (1.33 [1.22-1.46]), and for never having visits-living alone (1.77 [1.61-1.95]). Never having friends/family visits whilst living alone potentially counteracted benefits from other components as mortality risks were highest for those reporting both never having visits and living alone regardless of weekly group activity or functional components. When all measures were combined into overall functional and structural components, there was an interaction between components: compared with participants defined as not isolated by both components, those considered isolated by both components had higher CVD mortality (HR 1.63 [1.51-1.76]) than each component alone (functional isolation 1.17 [1.06-1.29]; structural isolation 1.27 [1.18-1.36]). CONCLUSIONS This work suggests (1) a potential threshold effect for friends/family visits, (2) that those who live alone with additional concurrent markers of structural isolation may represent a high-risk population, (3) that beneficial associations for some types of social connection might not be felt when other types of social connection are absent, and (4) considering both functional and structural components of social connection may help to identify the most isolated in society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamish M E Foster
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TB, Scotland.
| | - Jason M R Gill
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, Scotland
| | - Frances S Mair
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TB, Scotland
| | - Carlos A Celis-Morales
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, Scotland
| | - Bhautesh D Jani
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TB, Scotland
| | - Barbara I Nicholl
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TB, Scotland
| | - Duncan Lee
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The Mathematics and Statistics Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8SQ, Scotland
| | - Catherine A O'Donnell
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TB, Scotland
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Schneider V, Norris T, Nugawela M, Dalrymple E, Hargreaves D, Käll A, McOwat K, Shafran R, Stephenson T, Xu L, Pinto Pereira SM. Loneliness Trajectories, Associated Factors and Subsequent Health in Children and Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Matched Cohort Study. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:4461-4477. [PMID: 37936971 PMCID: PMC10626032 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s421165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Loneliness is common amongst children and young people (CYP) and is an independent risk factor for poor health. This study aimed to i) determine whether subgroups of CYP with different loneliness trajectories (during the second year of the pandemic) exist; ii) examine associations with socio-demographic characteristics and subsequent health; and iii) understand whether associations between loneliness and subsequent health were modified by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods A total of 5851 CYP (N=3260 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 2591 SARS-CoV-2 negative) provided data on loneliness (via the validated 3-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale for Children) at least twice in a 12-month period post PCR index-testing (conducted October 2020-March 2021). Latent class growth analyses were used to identify distinct classes of loneliness trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with class membership. Logistic regression models assessed the odds of reporting impairing symptoms 12-months post index-test. Results Four distinct loneliness trajectories were identified: three mostly stable (low, medium, high) and one low-increasing trajectory. Being older, female, living in more deprived areas and testing negative were associated with greater odds of being in the highest vs lowest loneliness trajectory; eg OR for female vs male: 5.6 (95% CI:4.1,7.8); OR for 15-17 vs 11-14 years: 4.5 (95% CI:3.4,6.0). Following higher loneliness trajectories was associated with higher odds of experiencing impairing symptoms 12-months post index-test: ORadjusted (compared to lowest loneliness trajectory) were 15.9 (95% CI:11.9,21.3) (high loneliness), 6.5 (5.3,7.9) (medium loneliness) and 2.3 (1.9,2.8) (low-increasing loneliness). There was no evidence that this association was modified by PCR index-test result. Conclusion About 5.3% of CYP were classified into a group experiencing (chronically) high loneliness. Being female, older and from more deprived areas were risk factors of belonging to this group. Results suggest that even small increases from low loneliness levels may be associated with worse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Schneider
- Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tom Norris
- Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
| | - Manjula Nugawela
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Dalrymple
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dougal Hargreaves
- Mohn Centre for Children’s Health & Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anton Käll
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kelsey McOwat
- Immunisation Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Roz Shafran
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Terence Stephenson
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Laila Xu
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - On behalf of CLoCk Consortium members
- Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Mohn Centre for Children’s Health & Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Immunisation Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
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6
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Barjaková M, Garnero A, d'Hombres B. Risk factors for loneliness: A literature review. Soc Sci Med 2023; 334:116163. [PMID: 37625251 PMCID: PMC10523154 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Increasingly, loneliness is being recognised as a serious problem with detrimental effects on health, as well as on social cohesion and community trust. To effectively tackle this complex issue, a clear understanding of the phenomenon and its main drivers is needed. Over years of scientific research on loneliness, many potential risk factors have emerged and been tested empirically. OBJECTIVE This narrative review of 109 studies provides a concise summary of empirical evidence on the main potential risk factors for loneliness and presents an additional section dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD Given the very large number of existing studies, emphasis is placed on recent meta-analyses and systematic literature reviews as well as longitudinal studies. Similarly, given the large number of possible risk factors for loneliness, which may differ based on the geographical and cultural context, this review focuses on studies from Europe and North America. RESULTS The results show that demographic factors often correlate with loneliness, but in many cases the link becomes negligible when controlling for other factors. Often, physical and mental health problems are found to be associated with loneliness, and so are some psychological factors, such as neuroticism or extroversion. Loneliness also depends on the environment in which one lives, and possibly the broader socio-economic and socio-cultural contexts. Nevertheless, the review shows that ultimately everything comes down to the quantity and quality of social relationships. In particular, marital status, living arrangements and the characteristics of one's personal social network are quite consistently found to be among the strongest predictors of loneliness. These main findings about the risk factors for loneliness remained valid also during the COVID-19 pandemic. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The findings of this review have implications for policy, as understanding who the most vulnerable groups are is key for designing targeted policy solutions that tackle loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Garnero
- Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD, France
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7
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Amendola S, Cerutti R, von Wyl A. Estimating the prevalence and characteristics of people in severe social isolation in 29 European countries: A secondary analysis of data from the European Social Survey round 9 (2018-2020). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291341. [PMID: 37699030 PMCID: PMC10497126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The main aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of people in severe social isolation as a proxy for high risk of hikikomori using data from 29 European countries. The relationship between the presence/absence of severe social isolation and demographic and psychosocial variables was also investigated. Publicly available data from the European Social Survey (ESS) round 9 collected between August 2018 and January 2020 were used. Data from the ESS round 1 (September 2002 -December 2003) and round 10 (September 2020 -May 2022) were also examined to investigate changes in the prevalence of severe social isolation over time. Analyses were restricted to the working-age population (15-64 years). A complex sampling design to obtain weighted prevalence and results was used. The study protocol was preregistered online on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/6a7br/). The weighted prevalence of severe social isolation was 2.01% for the sample from the ESS 1, 1.77% for the sample from the ESS 9, and 1.71% for the sample from the ESS 10, indicating a decrease over time, mainly in males. Logistic regression models showed that different sociodemographic factors (e.g., being retired, being permanently sick or disabled, doing housework, living in Central and Eastern Europe, living uncomfortably on household income, having no income) were associated with severe social isolation. Further, feeling unsafe when walking alone in the neighbourhood after dark, low social trust, and support, decreased happiness and lack of future planning correlated with severe social isolation after adjustment for the effect of sociodemographic factors was made. In this study, the prevalence of severe social isolation as a proxy for hikikomori in European countries is in line with that found by previous representative studies conducted in Asian countries. The novelty of the findings as well as implications for hikikomori research are discussed according to recent scientific literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Amendola
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Cerutti
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Health Studies, Sapienza–University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnes von Wyl
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
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8
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Pasanen TP, White MP, Elliott LR, van den Bosch M, Bratman GN, Ojala A, Korpela K, Fleming LE. Urban green space and mental health among people living alone: The mediating roles of relational and collective restoration in an 18-country sample. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023:116324. [PMID: 37311473 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rates of living alone, especially in more urbanised areas, are increasing across many industrialised countries, with associated increases in feelings of loneliness and poorer mental health. Recent studies have suggested that access to nature (e.g. parks and green spaces) can reduce the stressors associated with loneliness, partly through providing opportunities to nurture personal relationships (relational restoration) and engage in normative community activities (collective restoration). Such associations might vary across different household compositions and socio-demographic or geographical characteristics, but these have not been thoroughly tested. Using data collected across 18 countries/territories in 2017-2018, we grouped urban respondents into those living alone (n = 2062) and those living with a partner (n = 6218). Using multigroup path modelling, we tested whether the associations between neighbourhood greenspace coverage (1-km-buffer from home) and mental health are sequentially mediated by: (a) visits to greenspace; and subsequently (b) relationship and/or community satisfaction, as operationalisations of relational and collective restoration, respectively. We also tested whether any indirect associations varied among subgroups of respondents living alone. Analyses showed that visiting green space was associated with greater mental well-being and marginally lower odds of using anxiety/depression medication use indirectly, mediated via both relationship and community satisfaction. These indirect associations were equally strong among respondents living alone and those living with a partner. Neighbourhood green space was, additionally, associated with more visits among respondents living with a partner, whereas among those living alone, this was sensitive to the green space metric. Within subgroups of people living alone, few overall differences were found. Some indirect pathways were, nevertheless, stronger in males, under 60-year-olds, those with no financial strain, and residents in warmer climates. In conclusion, supporting those living alone, as well as those living with a partner, to more frequently access their local greenspaces could help improve mental health via promoting relational and collective restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tytti P Pasanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences / Psychology, Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33014, Tampere University, Finland; Environmental Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Mathew P White
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK; Cognitive Science HUB, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK
| | - Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Canada; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Washington, USA
| | - Ann Ojala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland
| | - Kalevi Korpela
- Faculty of Social Sciences / Psychology, Tampere University, Kalevantie 4, 33014, Tampere University, Finland
| | - Lora E Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3HD, UK
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9
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Kung CSJ, Kunz JS, Shields MA. COVID-19 lockdowns and changes in loneliness among young people in the U.K. Soc Sci Med 2023; 320:115692. [PMID: 36738653 PMCID: PMC9867560 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE There has been growing concern that loneliness has increased throughout the COVID-19 lockdowns, and that the burden has fallen heavily on young people. This is important because loneliness is strongly linked to worse health outcomes. OBJECTIVE We examine whether and how loneliness among young people changed during the pandemic across the different lockdown periods in 2020 and 2021. We also assess differences by gender, socioeconomic status, and economic activity before the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS We use nine waves of longitudinal data from the COVID-19 supplement of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (Understanding Society), collected between April 2020 and September 2021. We apply an individual fixed-effects event study design, which compares the loneliness reported by the same individual over lockdown transitions. We focus on loneliness reported by 1870 respondents aged between 16 and 24 years and compare it with pre-pandemic baselines. RESULTS We find that the loneliness of young people tracked the extent of lockdown restrictions but had returned to baseline levels by September 2021. This loneliness response was more pronounced for females than males but similar for young people across higher and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that policy interventions aimed at increasing opportunities for in-person social interactions for young people in 'normal' times, might have some success in tackling loneliness, particularly for young females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claryn S J Kung
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK.
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