Why is social isolation among older adults associated with depressive symptoms?

• Verfasst von: Herbolsheimer, Florian [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Ungar, Nadine [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Peter, Richard [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Why is social isolation among older adults associated with depressive symptoms?
• Titelzusatz: the mediating role of out-of-home physical activity
• Verf.angabe: Florian Herbolsheimer, Nadine Ungar, Richard Peter
• E-Jahr: 2018
• Jahr: 22 October 2018
• Umfang: 9 S.
• Fussnoten: First Online: 22 October 2018 ; Gesehen am 18.12.2019
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: International journal of behavioral medicine
• Ort Quelle: Boston, MA : Springer, 1994
• Jahr Quelle: 2018
• Band/Heft Quelle: 25(2018), 6, Seite 649-657
• ISSN Quelle: 1532-7558
• DOI: doi:10.1007/s12529-018-9752-x
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Accelerometry
• Sach-SW: Depression
• Sach-SW: Longitudinal
• Sach-SW: Physical activity
• Sach-SW: Social isolation
• K10plus-PPN: 1685933807

Abstract

Background Social networks are known to be a key factor associated with late-life depression. However, there is limited knowledge about the pathways linking social isolation to mental health. It has been proposed that health-related behaviors such as physical activity represent one pathway. This study examines the way out-of-home physical activity mediates between social isolation and depressive symptoms in older adults.Methods A subsample of 334 older adults from the ActiFE Ulm study, Germany, was randomly selected. Older adults (M = 72.6 years; 60.8% male) were interviewed at baseline and 3 years later. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Social isolation was measured using the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). Physical activity was measured by an accelerometer (activPAL) over 1 week. To identify out-of-home physical activity, a contemporary physical activity diary classified out-of-home physical activity.Results A cross-lagged structural equation model supported an indirect effect (β = .014, 95% CI .002 to .039) which means that being socially isolated was associated with lower levels of out-of-home physical activity, and this predicted more depressive symptoms after 3 years. However, no direct relationship was observed between social isolation from friends and neighbors at the baseline and depressive symptoms 3 years later.Conclusions Utilizing a longitudinal study design and accounting for reverse causality, this study extends prior work linking social isolation to depression by showing that a variety of neighbor and friendship ties are linked to fewer depressive symptoms by providing occasions for out-of-home physical activity.