Social support mediates loneliness and depression in elderly people
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of loneliness on depression and further tested the mediating effect of social support. A total of 320 elderly persons completed the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Results revealed that loneliness and social support significantly correlated with depression. Structural Equation Modeling indicated that social support partially mediates loneliness and depression. The final model illustrated a significant path from loneliness to depression through social support. This study sheds light on the concurrent effects of loneliness and social support on depression, providing evidence on how to reduce depression among the elderly.
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Loneliness is associated with depression.
“Loneliness has also been shown to be associated with a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes, such as reduced cognitive function [23], depression [24–26], and mortality [3].”
Both loneliness and social isolation are related to reduced social support availability.
“Both loneliness and social isolation are related to reduced social support availability [25,26].”
Perceptions of having social support available is protective against depression.
“a finding that is consistent with numerous studies that show that perceptions of having social support available is protective against depression [25,40].”
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References 44 · Cited by 352
- Authors
- Liu, L., Gou, Z., & Zuo, J.
- Affiliations
- Hebei North University (CN)
- Venue
- Journal of Health Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-06-11
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 750-758
- ISSN
- 1359-1053 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7277
- OpenAlex
- W2085305972
- Cited by
- 352
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4
- FWCI
- 11.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Health and Well-being Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Keywords
- loneliness, social support, depression, older adults, mediation, emotional loneliness, social loneliness, depression prevention
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Depression, Female, Humans, Loneliness, Male, Middle Aged, Social Support
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