{"title":"Possible and Probable Dementia and Depressive/Anxiety Symptoms: Mediation Effects of Social Engagement and Loneliness.","authors":"Namkee G Choi, Yuanjin Zhou, C Nathan Marti","doi":"10.1177/01640275251380531","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using a nationally representative sample of older adults (age 65+, <i>N</i> = 7,547) and a path model, we examined the direct effects of dementia on social engagement, loneliness, and depressive/anxiety symptoms, and the mediation effects of loneliness and social engagement on the associations between dementia and depressive/anxiety symptoms. Of the study population, 7.7% and 5.5% had possible and probable dementia, respectively; 14.3% and 21.9% of those with possible and probable dementia had moderate to severe depressive/anxiety symptoms. The ratios of the indirect effects of social engagement and loneliness on a possible dementia to the total effect of possible dementia on depressive/anxiety symptoms were 0.26 and 0.28, respectively. The ratios in probable dementia were 0.11 and 0.21. The lack of social engagement and loneliness contribute substantially to depressive/anxiety symptoms in dementia. Strategies to increase social engagement and reduce social isolation are necessary to improve the psychological well-being of people living with dementia.</p>","PeriodicalId":47983,"journal":{"name":"Research on Aging","volume":" ","pages":"1640275251380531"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Research on Aging","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275251380531","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Using a nationally representative sample of older adults (age 65+, N = 7,547) and a path model, we examined the direct effects of dementia on social engagement, loneliness, and depressive/anxiety symptoms, and the mediation effects of loneliness and social engagement on the associations between dementia and depressive/anxiety symptoms. Of the study population, 7.7% and 5.5% had possible and probable dementia, respectively; 14.3% and 21.9% of those with possible and probable dementia had moderate to severe depressive/anxiety symptoms. The ratios of the indirect effects of social engagement and loneliness on a possible dementia to the total effect of possible dementia on depressive/anxiety symptoms were 0.26 and 0.28, respectively. The ratios in probable dementia were 0.11 and 0.21. The lack of social engagement and loneliness contribute substantially to depressive/anxiety symptoms in dementia. Strategies to increase social engagement and reduce social isolation are necessary to improve the psychological well-being of people living with dementia.
期刊介绍：
Research on Aging is an interdisciplinary journal designed to reflect the expanding role of research in the field of social gerontology. Research on Aging exists to provide for publication of research in the broad range of disciplines concerned with aging. Scholars from the disciplines of sociology, geriatrics, history, psychology, anthropology, public health, economics, political science, criminal justice, and social work are encouraged to contribute articles to the journal. Emphasis will be on materials of broad scope and cross-disciplinary interest. Assessment of the current state of knowledge is as important as provision of an outlet for new knowledge, so critical and review articles are welcomed. Systematic attention to particular topics will also be featured.
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