Effect of loneliness on mental health and cognition: A study on middle‐aged and older adults in India

Q2 Social Sciences

International Social Science Journal Pub Date : 2023-09-16 DOI:10.1111/issj.12454

Bijeta Mishra, Suman Dhaka

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The article assesses the impact of loneliness and age on the mental health and cognitive functioning of individuals aged 45 and above in the Indian context. The mediating effect of marital status and age on the way loneliness impacts individuals’ cognition and mental health is examined. Methods Data were obtained from the pilot wave of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, and scores of 1578 participants were considered for analysis. Standardised and validated measures were employed to measure loneliness, mental health and cognition of the participants. Multivariate analysis was employed to investigate the impact of loneliness and age on cognition and mental health. Structural equation modelling was used for evaluating the mediating effect of age and marital status. Results Loneliness significantly impacted mental health and global cognitive function, whereas age significantly impacted episodic memory and total cognition. Marital status had a significant mediating role on the impact of loneliness on individuals’ mental health and cognitive functioning. Discussion Fostering social support among lonely individuals might help mitigate loneliness, enhance their mental health status, and slow down cognitive decline.

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孤独感对心理健康和认知的影响:印度中老年人的研究

摘要目的研究孤独感和年龄对印度45岁及以上人群心理健康和认知功能的影响。研究了婚姻状况和年龄在孤独感对个体认知和心理健康的影响中的中介作用。方法从印度纵向老龄化研究的先导波中获取数据，并考虑1578名参与者的得分进行分析。采用标准化和有效的测量方法来测量参与者的孤独感、心理健康和认知。采用多变量分析探讨孤独感和年龄对认知和心理健康的影响。采用结构方程模型评价年龄和婚姻状况的中介作用。结果孤独感对心理健康和整体认知功能有显著影响，而年龄对情景记忆和整体认知功能有显著影响。婚姻状况对孤独感对个体心理健康和认知功能的影响具有显著的中介作用。在孤独个体中培养社会支持可能有助于减轻孤独，改善他们的心理健康状况，减缓认知能力下降。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Social Science Journal Social Sciences-Social Sciences (all)

CiteScore

1.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The International Social Science Journal bridges social science communities across disciplines and continents with a view to sharing information and debate with the widest possible audience. The ISSJ has a particular focus on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work that pushes the boundaries of current approaches, and welcomes both applied and theoretical research. Originally founded by UNESCO in 1949, ISSJ has since grown into a forum for innovative review, reflection and discussion informed by recent and ongoing international, social science research. It provides a home for work that asks questions in new ways and/or employs original methods to classic problems and whose insights have implications across the disciplines and beyond the academy. The journal publishes regular editions featuring rigorous, peer-reviewed research articles that reflect its international and heterodox scope.