We have located links that may give you full text access.
Why Is Social Isolation Among Older Adults Associated with Depressive Symptoms? The Mediating Role of Out-of-Home Physical Activity.
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 2018 December
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.
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.
Full text links
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app