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Giraldo-Rodríguez L, Agudelo-Botero M, Rojas-Russell ME. Elder Abuse and Depressive Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Loneliness in Older Adults. Arch Med Res 2024; 55:103045. [PMID: 39067257 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.103045] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elder abuse (EA), depressive symptoms, and loneliness represent a growing risk to the health, well-being, and premature mortality of older adults. However, the role of loneliness in the relationship between EA and depressive symptoms has not yet been examined. AIMS To investigate the associations between these constructs and to explore the possible mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between EA and depressive symptoms in a representative sample of older Mexican people. METHODS A representative community-dwelling survey of older adults aged 60 and older was conducted in two cities in Mexico (Mexico City and Xalapa) in 2018-2019. Measurements of EA, loneliness, depressive symptoms, health, and sociodemographic data were collected. Regression and mediation models were tested to analyze the associations between these variables. RESULTS The prevalence of EA was 16.3%, loneliness was 50%, and depressive symptoms were 25.5%. The odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of depressive symptoms was 2.7 when the combined effects of EA and loneliness were considered. The proportion of the effect that could explain the mediating role of loneliness was 31%. CONCLUSION To effectively reduce depressive symptoms in older individuals affected by emotional or psychological abuse and neglect, it is crucial to address both the mediating influence of loneliness and EA itself in therapeutic and preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcela Agudelo-Botero
- Centro de Investigación en Políticas, Población y Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mario E Rojas-Russell
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Sherman DW, Alfano AR, Alfonso F, Duque CR, Eiroa D, Marrero Y, Muñecas T, Radcliffe-Henry E, Rodriguez A, Sommer CL. A Systematic Review of the Relationship between Social Isolation and Physical Health in Adults. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1135. [PMID: 38891210 PMCID: PMC11171827 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: According to the World Health Organization, social isolation, particularly of older adults, is a public health issue endangering the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Social isolation affects health through biological, behavioral, and psychological pathways and is associated with physical and psychological/emotional well-being, increases morbidity and mortality rates, and lowers quality of life. Purpose: This systematic review examined the relationship between social isolation and physical health, including subjective and objective dimensions, and factors that influence this relationship in adults. Methods: This systematic review examined six electronic databases covering the field of health and human services and included results from 1 January 2017 to 10 March 2023 with key terms including adult social connection or social isolation coupled with health, physical, psychological, emotional, mental, or behavioral. The initial search yielded 925 research articles across all databases and was narrowed to 710 when the decision was made to focus on social isolation and physical health. Covidence was used throughout the retrieval and appraisal process, as provided in a PRISMA flow diagram. Twenty-four studies that scored 90 or above in the appraisal process were included in the systematic review. Results: The studies represented included seven studies conducted in the United States and seventeen studies conducted internationally. Regarding study design, twenty-three studies were quantitative, one was qualitative, and one was mixed methods. The majority of quantitative studies were correlational in design with nine being longitudinal. The majority of studies were based on large national data sets representing in total 298,653 participants aged 50 and older. The results indicate that social isolation is related to increases in inflammatory biomarkers associated with diseases, all-cause mortality, lower expectations of longevity, and frailty. In addition, social isolation was associated with cognitive decline and disruptions in sleep. Poor oral health increased social isolation. The results further indicated that decreased physical performance/function and a decline in physical activity were associated with social isolation, as well as decreased overall physical health, poor health behaviors, and self-care, and decreased health-related quality of life. Further research is warranted to examine the possible bidirectionality of these relationships and possible mediating, moderating, or confounding variables. Implications: Future research is needed to explore the biological and behavioral pathways in which social isolation negatively impacts physical health. Going forward, studies are needed that move beyond descriptive, exploratory methods and integrate data from qualitative and mixed-method designs that will inform the development and testing of a conceptual framework related to social isolation and health. By advancing the science behind social isolation, comprehensive interventions can be identified and tested with implications at the individual, family, community, and societal levels to reduce social isolation, particularly among adults, and improve health and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Witt Sherman
- Department of Graduate Nursing, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Alliete Rodriguez Alfano
- Department of Communication and Science Disorders, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA; (A.R.A.); (C.L.S.)
| | - Fernando Alfonso
- Department of Nurse Anesthesiology, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Carmen R. Duque
- Department of Undergraduate Nursing, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Daniella Eiroa
- Department of Athletic Training Services, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Yamile Marrero
- Department of Health Services Administration, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Teresa Muñecas
- Department of Clinical Education, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Erica Radcliffe-Henry
- Department of Physical Assistant, Hubert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA;
| | - Chelsea L. Sommer
- Department of Communication and Science Disorders, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Miami, FL 33199, USA; (A.R.A.); (C.L.S.)
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Zhou J, Tang R, Wang X, Li X, Heianza Y, Qi L. Improvement of Social Isolation and Loneliness and Excess Mortality Risk in People With Obesity. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2352824. [PMID: 38252435 PMCID: PMC10804268 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.52824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Individuals with obesity experience markedly higher levels of social isolation and loneliness than those without obesity, but little is known about whether improvement of social isolation or loneliness might attenuate obesity-related excess risk of mortality. Objective To investigate whether improvement of social isolation or loneliness is associated with lower obesity-related excess risk of mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study included individuals without cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline from the UK Biobank with follow-up beginning in March 2006 and ending in November 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures All-cause, cancer-related, and CVD-related mortality were estimated. Results A total of 398 972 participants were included in this study (mean [SD] age, 55.85 [8.08] years; 220 469 [55.26%] women; 13 734 [3.44%] Asian, 14 179 [3.55%] multiracial, and 363 685 [91.16%] White participants). Overall, 93 357 (23.40%) had obesity, and 305 615 (76.60%) did not. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 12.73 (12.01-13.43) years, a total of 22 872 incident deaths were recorded. Compared with participants with obesity with an index of 2 or greater for social isolation, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.79-0.91) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.69-0.80) for participants with obesity and a social isolation index of 1 and 0, respectively (P for trend < .001); compared with participants with obesity and an index of 2 for loneliness, the HRs and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.89-1.06) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.94) for participants with obesity and a loneliness index of 1 and 0, respectively (P for trend < .001). As the index of social isolation and loneliness went from highest to lowest, the HR for all-cause mortality decreased by 36% and 9%, respectively, in people with obesity compared with people without obesity using the multivariable model. Social isolation was ranked higher than loneliness, depression, anxiety, and lifestyle-related risk factors including alcohol, physical activity, and healthy diet for estimating the risks of all-cause mortality, cancer-related mortality, and CVD-related mortality. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of UK Biobank participants, a lower index of social isolation or loneliness was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality among people with obesity, and improvement of social isolation and loneliness attenuated obesity-related excess risk of all-cause mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Rui Tang
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Yoriko Heianza
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Lu Qi
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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You E, Nicholson NR, Jacobson SA, Poghosyan H, Feinn RS, Charlotte L. Social Isolation and Population Density: Racial and Ethnic Differences Among Older Adults. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2024; 61:469580241273127. [PMID: 39229676 PMCID: PMC11375685 DOI: 10.1177/00469580241273127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
This study uses secondary data analysis to assess the relationship between social isolation (SI) and population density in the US, as well as any moderating influence that race/ethnicity may have on that relationship. A recent consensus on the measure of SI is that it focuses on the objective absence of social connections, whereas loneliness refers to subjective assessments of one's social connections. Therefore, while the original study measured both objective and subjective SI may be innovative, it may also be overly ambitious. SI puts older people at risk for health problems, including an increased chance of dying. The AARP Foundation gathered the initial convenience sample, which included 8149 senior citizens. The study determined population density using self-reported zip codes, measured as persons per square mile, and divided the results into tertiles. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the moderating role of race/ethnicity between population density and SI. The findings revealed that greater population density was associated with less SI for individuals residing in zip codes with a higher percentage of the same race/ethnicity, but more SI for those in zip codes with a lower percentage of the same race/ethnicity. These results suggest that race/ethnicity should be considered in future studies or when developing policies and interventions to address SI among older adults in high-population-density areas. For example, when policymakers aim to address SI in a community, they may want to collect data based on zip codes and create targeted interventions for specific racial/ethnic groups within those zip code areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhea You
- Quinnipiac University - North Haven Campus, North Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Richard S. Feinn
- Quinnipiac University - North Haven Campus, North Haven, CT, USA
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Yu X, Cho TC, Westrick AC, Chen C, Langa KM, Kobayashi LC. Association of cumulative loneliness with all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1996 to 2019. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2306819120. [PMID: 38079549 PMCID: PMC10743490 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306819120] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Loneliness is a growing public health concern worldwide. We characterized the association between cumulative loneliness and subsequent all-cause mortality, using data from 9,032 participants aged 50+ in the population-based US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 1996 to 2019. Loneliness status (yes; no) was measured biennially from 1996 to 2004, and we categorized the experience of cumulative loneliness over the 8-y period as never, one time point, two time points, and ≥three time points. A multivariable-adjusted age-stratified Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted to examine the association between cumulative loneliness from 1996 to 2004 and all-cause mortality from 2004 to 2019. Excess deaths due to each category of cumulative loneliness were calculated. Compared to those who never reported loneliness from 1996 to 2004, participants experiencing loneliness at one time point, two time points, and ≥three time points respectively had 1.05 (95% CI: 0.96 to 1.15), 1.06 (95% CI: 0.95 to 1.19), and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.33) times higher hazards of mortality from 2004 to 2019 (P trend = 0.01). These results correspond to 106 (95% CI: 68 to 144), 202 (95% CI: 146 to 259), and 288 (95% CI: 233 to 343) excess deaths per 10,000 person-years, for those experiencing loneliness at each of one, two, or ≥three time points from 1996 to 2004. Cumulative loneliness in mid-to-later life may thus be a mortality risk factor with a notable impact on excess mortality. Loneliness may be an important target for interventions to improve life expectancy in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuexin Yu
- Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of MichiganSchool of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Tsai-Chin Cho
- Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of MichiganSchool of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Ashly C. Westrick
- Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of MichiganSchool of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Chen Chen
- Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of MichiganSchool of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Kenneth M. Langa
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Lindsay C. Kobayashi
- Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of MichiganSchool of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg2050, South Africa
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Pengpid S, Peltzer K, Anantanasuwong D. Longitudinal associations of loneliness with mental ill-health, physical ill-health, lifestyle factors and mortality in ageing adults in Thailand. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:855. [PMID: 37978470 PMCID: PMC10656829 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05263-0] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal association between loneliness, mental and physical ill-health indicators, lifestyle factors and mortality among middle-aged and older adults in Thailand. METHODS We analyzed prospective cohort data of participants 45 years and older from three consecutive waves in 2015 (n = 5616), 2017 (n = 3600), and in 2020 (n = 2863) of the Health, Aging and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study. Loneliness was assessed with a single item. To assess the longitudinal associations between loneliness and health outcomes between 2015 (baseline), 2017 (first follow-up) and 2020 (second follow-up), we conducted Generalized Estimating Equations analysis (GEE). RESULTS The proportion of loneliness was 21.6% in 2015, 23.8% in 2017 and 21.3% in 2020. In the adjusted GEE logistic regression model, loneliness was positively associated with mental ill-health (poor self-rated mental health status, poor quality of life/happiness, depressive symptoms, and insomnia symptoms), physical ill-health (poor self-rated physical health status, hypertension, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and ADL disability), and lifestyle factors (physical inactivity, and having underweight). Furthermore, in adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression, loneliness was associated with mortality. In adjusted logistic regression, compared to without loneliness in all three study waves, having loneliness in one wave and/or two to three waves was positively associated with incident mental ill-health (incident poor self-rated mental health status, incident poor quality of life/happiness, incident depressive symptoms, and incident insomnia symptoms), incident physical ill-health (incident poor self-rated physical health status, incident diabetes, incident kidney disease, and incident ADL disability), and incident lifestyle factors (having incident underweight). CONCLUSION We found that loneliness was associated with several mental and physical ill-health indicators, lifestyle factors and mortality. Enhanced screening and treatment of loneliness may reduce mental and physical ill-health indicators in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supa Pengpid
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa.
- Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Karl Peltzer
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Dararatt Anantanasuwong
- Center for Aging Society Research (CASR), National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Bangkapi Bangkok, Thailand
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