The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation
Abstract Background Hearing loss is an important factor affecting cognitive function in the elderly. However, the relationship between hearing loss, social isolation, and cognitive function remains unknown. This study aims to explore the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06261-5 |
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| author | Jinwen Bai Fangfang Zhen Maria Della C. Raneses Felina C. Young Kun Yang |
| author_facet | Jinwen Bai Fangfang Zhen Maria Della C. Raneses Felina C. Young Kun Yang |
| author_sort | Jinwen Bai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hearing loss is an important factor affecting cognitive function in the elderly. However, the relationship between hearing loss, social isolation, and cognitive function remains unknown. This study aims to explore the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly and analyze the mediating role of social isolation. Method From June to November 2023, a total of 450 elderly people (Male 161, Female 289) were recruited in Tangshan City by convenience sampling, including 252 young-old, 168 middle-old, and 30 very old. The study used the general demographic questionnaire, hearing handicap inventory for the elderly-screening (HHIE-S), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Lubben social network scale (LSNS-6) to collect cross-sectional data from the elderly participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 and PROCESS macro. Result The mean age of older adults was 72.77 ± 7.96years, ranging from 60 to 87 years old. The hearing loss score of the elderly was 10.00 ± 7.75 points, the cognitive function score was 24.06 ± 4.22 points, and the social isolation score was 15.73 ± 4.83 points. A negative correlation was observed between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly (r=-0.418, P < 0.001). In addition, hearing loss was also negatively correlated with social isolation in the elderly (r=-0.385, P < 0.001). However, a positive correlation was found between social isolation and cognitive function (r = 0.537, P < 0.001). Furthermore, hearing loss in the elderly was found to not only directly affect their cognitive function but also indirectly affect their cognitive function through the mediating effect of social isolation, with a mediating effect value of -0.170. Conclusion This study revealed that hearing loss, social isolation and cognitive function in the elderly are not optimistic. Hearing loss can not only directly affect cognitive function but also indirectly affect cognitive function through the mediating effect of social isolation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e3463c0c85a49ce976a228837e7fd28 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e3463c0c85a49ce976a228837e7fd282025-08-20T03:42:07ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-08-012511910.1186/s12877-025-06261-5The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolationJinwen Bai0Fangfang Zhen1Maria Della C. Raneses2Felina C. Young3Kun Yang4Philippine Women’s University School of NursingPhilippine Women’s University School of NursingBicol UniversityPhilippine Women’s University School of NursingPhilippine Women’s University School of NursingAbstract Background Hearing loss is an important factor affecting cognitive function in the elderly. However, the relationship between hearing loss, social isolation, and cognitive function remains unknown. This study aims to explore the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly and analyze the mediating role of social isolation. Method From June to November 2023, a total of 450 elderly people (Male 161, Female 289) were recruited in Tangshan City by convenience sampling, including 252 young-old, 168 middle-old, and 30 very old. The study used the general demographic questionnaire, hearing handicap inventory for the elderly-screening (HHIE-S), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Lubben social network scale (LSNS-6) to collect cross-sectional data from the elderly participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 and PROCESS macro. Result The mean age of older adults was 72.77 ± 7.96years, ranging from 60 to 87 years old. The hearing loss score of the elderly was 10.00 ± 7.75 points, the cognitive function score was 24.06 ± 4.22 points, and the social isolation score was 15.73 ± 4.83 points. A negative correlation was observed between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly (r=-0.418, P < 0.001). In addition, hearing loss was also negatively correlated with social isolation in the elderly (r=-0.385, P < 0.001). However, a positive correlation was found between social isolation and cognitive function (r = 0.537, P < 0.001). Furthermore, hearing loss in the elderly was found to not only directly affect their cognitive function but also indirectly affect their cognitive function through the mediating effect of social isolation, with a mediating effect value of -0.170. Conclusion This study revealed that hearing loss, social isolation and cognitive function in the elderly are not optimistic. Hearing loss can not only directly affect cognitive function but also indirectly affect cognitive function through the mediating effect of social isolation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06261-5ElderlyHearing lossSocial isolationCognitive function |
| spellingShingle | Jinwen Bai Fangfang Zhen Maria Della C. Raneses Felina C. Young Kun Yang The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation BMC Geriatrics Elderly Hearing loss Social isolation Cognitive function |
| title | The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation |
| title_full | The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation |
| title_short | The relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly: the mediating effect of social isolation |
| title_sort | relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function in the elderly the mediating effect of social isolation |
| topic | Elderly Hearing loss Social isolation Cognitive function |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06261-5 |
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