The effects of loneliness on depressive symptoms among older adults during COVID-19: longitudinal analyses of the Canadian longitudinal study on aging
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Objectives This paper examines the longitudinal effects of changes in the association between loneliness and depressive symptoms during the pandemic among older adults (65+). Methods Baseline (2011–2015) and Follow-up 1 (2015–2018) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), and the Baseline and Exit waves of the CLSA COVID-19 study (April–December, 2020) ( n = 12,469) were used. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and depression using the CES_D- 9. Results Loneliness is associated with depressive symptoms pre-pandemic; and changes in level of loneliness between FUP1 and the COVID Exit survey, adjusting for covariates. No interaction between loneliness and caregiving, and with multimorbidity, on depressive symptoms were observed, and several covariates exhibited associations with depressive symptoms. Discussion Strong support is found for an association between loneliness on depressive symptoms among older adults during the pandemic. Public health approaches addressing loneliness could reduce the burden of depression on older populations.
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Social isolation and loneliness are associated with the development and persistence of mental health problems.
“social isolation and loneliness are associated with the development and persistence of such problems (10–12).”
From Telephone-based group mental health support for older adults in central Canada: pilot acceptability and effectiveness findings of The CONNECT Program (2025) · cites this paper as [12]
The Introduction (page unavailable) reports associations of both loneliness and social isolation with worsening mental health, supporting the broad association. It does not establish that either is associated specifically with the development and persistence of mental health problems; its longitudinal analysis concerns changes in depressive symptoms among older adults. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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References 58 · Cited by 20
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Wister A. Li L. Mitchell B. Wolfson C. McMillan J. Griffith L. E. Kirkland S. Raina P. (2022d). Levels of depression and anxiety among informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study based on the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 77(9), 1740– 1757. 10.1093/geronb/gbac035 PMC8903401 35150268 · DOI
- Authors
- Wister, A., Li, L., Levasseur, M., Kadowaki, L., & Pickering, J.
- Affiliations
- Simon Fraser University (CA)
- MacEwan University (CA)
- Université de Sherbrooke (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Li, Lun
- Venue
- Journal of Aging and Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2022-11-16
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 5-6
- Pages
- 439-452
- ISSN
- 0898-2643 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-6887
- PMC
- PMC9672981
- OpenAlex
- W4309322782
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5
- FWCI
- 3.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Aging and Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (LSA 94,473)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Keywords
- loneliness, depressive symptoms, older adults, COVID-19 pandemic, caregiving, multimorbidity, Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, depression prevention
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, Aged, Aging, Canada, Depression, Humans, Loneliness, Longitudinal Studies
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