LONGITUDINAL ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN LONELINESS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN THE OLDEST-OLD
2024
Loneliness and Depression in Older Adults
Sample size: 702
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Lynch Morgan, Beam Christopher
Primary Institution: University of Southern California
Hypothesis
Does loneliness predict depression in the oldest-old?
Conclusion
In the oldest-old, depression may precede loneliness rather than loneliness predicting depression.
Supporting Evidence
- The study used data from 702 pairs of Swedish twins aged 80 and older.
- Bidirectional effects were found where depression positively predicted loneliness.
- Loneliness negatively predicted depression after accounting for correlations at the same time point.
Takeaway
This study looked at older people and found that feeling lonely doesn't always lead to feeling sad; sometimes, being sad can make you feel lonely.
Methodology
The study analyzed five waves of loneliness and depression scores from Swedish twins aged 80 and older using a Trait-State-Error model.
Participant Demographics
Swedish twins aged 80 and older.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
[0.03, 0.46] and [-0.61, -0.09]
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website