Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults
Abstract This study investigates the long-term effects of loneliness on pain experiences in older Chinese adults, focusing on the mediating role of depression. Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2013–2020) included 1,592 participants aged 60 and above. Using robust mixed-e...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87679-0 |
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| author | Aijun Song Siying Yu Yao Shen Zongyan Guo Jian Shi |
| author_facet | Aijun Song Siying Yu Yao Shen Zongyan Guo Jian Shi |
| author_sort | Aijun Song |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study investigates the long-term effects of loneliness on pain experiences in older Chinese adults, focusing on the mediating role of depression. Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2013–2020) included 1,592 participants aged 60 and above. Using robust mixed-effects logistic regression models, the study found that lonely participants were more likely to experience 12 site pain: headache (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.09–1.39), shoulder (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.04–1.30), wrist (OR 1.14; 95%CI 1.01–1.28), finger (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.28), chest (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.10–1.44), stomach (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.12–1.46), back (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.00–1.51), waist (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.17–1.83), buttock (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.30), leg (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08–1.33), knee (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.04–1.30), and toe (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.04–1.34) than participants who were not lonely. No such finding was found for neck, arm, or ankle pain. The risk of pain due to loneliness did not decrease with an increase in the frequency of social activities. These findings emphasize the need to address mental health as a crucial factor in pain prevention and management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb993f6052c04e2fb4e39423635550c3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fb993f6052c04e2fb4e39423635550c32025-02-09T12:30:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-87679-0Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adultsAijun Song0Siying Yu1Yao Shen2Zongyan Guo3Jian Shi4Department of Surgery, Jiaozuo People’s HospitalDepartment of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of SportDepartment of Nursing, Jiaozuo People’s HospitalDepartment of Nursing, Jiaozuo People’s HospitalDepartment of Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan UniversityAbstract This study investigates the long-term effects of loneliness on pain experiences in older Chinese adults, focusing on the mediating role of depression. Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2013–2020) included 1,592 participants aged 60 and above. Using robust mixed-effects logistic regression models, the study found that lonely participants were more likely to experience 12 site pain: headache (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.09–1.39), shoulder (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.04–1.30), wrist (OR 1.14; 95%CI 1.01–1.28), finger (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.28), chest (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.10–1.44), stomach (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.12–1.46), back (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.00–1.51), waist (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.17–1.83), buttock (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.30), leg (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08–1.33), knee (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.04–1.30), and toe (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.04–1.34) than participants who were not lonely. No such finding was found for neck, arm, or ankle pain. The risk of pain due to loneliness did not decrease with an increase in the frequency of social activities. These findings emphasize the need to address mental health as a crucial factor in pain prevention and management.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87679-0LonelyPainCHARLSDepressionOlder adults |
| spellingShingle | Aijun Song Siying Yu Yao Shen Zongyan Guo Jian Shi Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults Scientific Reports Lonely Pain CHARLS Depression Older adults |
| title | Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults |
| title_full | Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults |
| title_fullStr | Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults |
| title_short | Association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older Chinese adults |
| title_sort | association of loneliness with the risk of pain in older chinese adults |
| topic | Lonely Pain CHARLS Depression Older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87679-0 |
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