Social network size, loneliness, physical functioning and depressive symptoms among older adults: Examining reciprocal associations in four waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)
Por:
Domènech J, Mundó J, Switsers L, van Tilburg T, Fernández D and Aznar I
Publicada:
1 oct 2021
Ahead of Print:
1 may 2021
Categoría:
Geriatrics and gerontology
Resumen:
Introduction Previous research indicates that social isolation, loneliness, physical dysfunction and depressive symptoms are interrelated factors, little is known about the potential pathways among them. The aim of the study is to analyse simultaneously reciprocal relationships that could exist between the four factors to clarify potential mediation effects.
Methods Within a large representative sample of older people in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), participants aged 75 and over were followed up over a period of 11 years (four waves). We tested cross-lagged and autoregressive longitudinal associations of social network size, loneliness, physical functioning and depressive symptoms using structural equation modelling (SEM).
Results Several statistically significant cross-lagged associations were found: decreasing physical functioning (Coef. = -0.03; p < 0.05), as well as social network size (Coef. = -0.02; p < 0.05), predicted higher levels of loneliness, which predicted an increase in depressive symptoms (Coef. = 0.17; p < 0.05) and further reduction of social network (Coef. = -0.20; p < 0.05). Decreasing physical functioning also predicted an increase in depressive symptoms (Coef. = -0.08; p < 0.05). All autoregressive associations were statistically significant.
Conclusion Interventions focused on promoting social activities among older adults after negative life events, such as loss of social contacts or declining physical function, may alleviate feelings of loneliness and act as mental health protector.
Filiaciones:
Domènech J:
Department of Sociology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Mundó J:
Department of Sociology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Switsers L:
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Flemish Government, Brussels, Belgium
van Tilburg T:
Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
:
Serra Húnter fellow. Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC)-BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
Aznar I:
Research, Innovation and Teaching Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Green Accepted, Green Published
|