The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults
Abstract Background Loneliness has been identified as a significant independent predictor of depression among older adults. Social support has been reported to play a protective role against both loneliness and depression in older adults. However, few studies to date have investigated the three cons...
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BMC
2024-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05461-9 |
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| author | Sital Gautam Anju Poudel Roshani Agrawal Khatry Rachana Mishra |
| author_facet | Sital Gautam Anju Poudel Roshani Agrawal Khatry Rachana Mishra |
| author_sort | Sital Gautam |
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| description | Abstract Background Loneliness has been identified as a significant independent predictor of depression among older adults. Social support has been reported to play a protective role against both loneliness and depression in older adults. However, few studies to date have investigated the three constructs concurrently and the mediating role of Perceived Social Support (PSS) on the relationship between loneliness and depression in this age group. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between loneliness and depression among community-dwelling Nepalese older adults based on the mediating role of PSS. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional research study included 367 community-dwelling older adults from a randomly selected ward in Kathmandu, Nepal. The University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and the PROCESS 4.1 macro developed by Hayes with a bootstrapping procedure were used to test the mediating effect of the PSS on the relationship between loneliness and depression. Results Loneliness was negatively associated with the PSS (β = -0.405; 95% CI: −0.473, -0.337; P < 0.001), and the PSS was positively associated with depression (β = 0.057; 95% CI: 0.014, 0.099; P = 0.009). The direct effect of loneliness on depression was positive and significant (β = 0.151; 95% CI: 0.117, 0.184; P < 0.001), whereas the indirect effect of loneliness on depression through the PSS was negative (path c; β = -0.023, 95% CI: -0.041, -0.005). The results indicated that the PSS partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. Conclusion These findings suggest that interventions focusing on reducing loneliness and fostering social support may be able to lessen depressive symptoms in older adults. By addressing these factors, healthcare providers and carers can promote the mental health of older adults. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-4545b0bc2a6349b2b6ac88bcfb3f14802025-08-20T02:11:50ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182024-10-012411710.1186/s12877-024-05461-9The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adultsSital Gautam0Anju Poudel1Roshani Agrawal Khatry2Rachana Mishra3School of Nursing and Midwifery, Patan Academy of Health SciencesHospital Nursing Administrator Health DirectorateSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Patan Academy of Health SciencesSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Patan Academy of Health SciencesAbstract Background Loneliness has been identified as a significant independent predictor of depression among older adults. Social support has been reported to play a protective role against both loneliness and depression in older adults. However, few studies to date have investigated the three constructs concurrently and the mediating role of Perceived Social Support (PSS) on the relationship between loneliness and depression in this age group. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between loneliness and depression among community-dwelling Nepalese older adults based on the mediating role of PSS. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional research study included 367 community-dwelling older adults from a randomly selected ward in Kathmandu, Nepal. The University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and the PROCESS 4.1 macro developed by Hayes with a bootstrapping procedure were used to test the mediating effect of the PSS on the relationship between loneliness and depression. Results Loneliness was negatively associated with the PSS (β = -0.405; 95% CI: −0.473, -0.337; P < 0.001), and the PSS was positively associated with depression (β = 0.057; 95% CI: 0.014, 0.099; P = 0.009). The direct effect of loneliness on depression was positive and significant (β = 0.151; 95% CI: 0.117, 0.184; P < 0.001), whereas the indirect effect of loneliness on depression through the PSS was negative (path c; β = -0.023, 95% CI: -0.041, -0.005). The results indicated that the PSS partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and depression. Conclusion These findings suggest that interventions focusing on reducing loneliness and fostering social support may be able to lessen depressive symptoms in older adults. By addressing these factors, healthcare providers and carers can promote the mental health of older adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05461-9Social supportLonelinessDepressionOlder adultsCommunityNepal |
| spellingShingle | Sital Gautam Anju Poudel Roshani Agrawal Khatry Rachana Mishra The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults BMC Geriatrics Social support Loneliness Depression Older adults Community Nepal |
| title | The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults |
| title_full | The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults |
| title_fullStr | The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults |
| title_short | The mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community-dwelling Nepalese older adults |
| title_sort | mediating role of perceived social support on loneliness and depression in community dwelling nepalese older adults |
| topic | Social support Loneliness Depression Older adults Community Nepal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05461-9 |
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