TY - JOUR
T1 - Sex-specific impacts of social isolation on loneliness, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and biomarkers
T2 - Results from the social environment and biomarker of aging study
AU - Hsiao, Fei Yuan
AU - Peng, Li Ning
AU - Lee, Wei Ju
AU - Chen, Liang Kung
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Objectives: To investigate sex-specific associations between social isolation and psychological outcomes and biomarkers among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults using a nationally representative population-based cohort study. Methods: Data from 757 participants from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) were retrieved for analysis, and all participants were stratified by sex. The associations between social isolation and psychological outcomes (loneliness, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment) at the 4-year follow-up were examined by multivariate logistic regression models, and associations between social isolation and biomarkers at the 4-year follow-up were examined by multivariate generalized linear models (GLMs). Results: For men, social isolation was not associated with the development of loneliness. However, being married (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.74], p<0.001) was associated with a lower risk of loneliness, indicating potential protective effects of marriage for men. On the other hand, social isolation was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of loneliness in women (aOR 2.26 [1.01-5.09], p<0.001). Social isolation was not associated with depressive symptoms after adjusting for other demographics. For men, being married (aOR 0.51 [0.26-0.99], p<0.05) or having good self-reported health (aOR 0.44 [0.21-0.92], p<0.05) was protective against depressive symptoms. For women, only good self-reported health (aOR 0.30 [0.13-0.70], p<0.01) provided protective effects against depressive symptoms. Similarly, other demographic factors (being married and having a higher educational level) but not social isolation were associated with lower risks of cognitive impairment. No significant associations were noted between social isolation and selected biomarkers. Conclusions: Sex-different associations between social isolation and loneliness were noted; the effects of demographic factors, such as being married, self-reported health status, and high education levels, on subsequent loneliness, depression, and cognitive function were also sex-different. Further intervention studies are needed to explore sex-specific approaches to deal with the interplay of social isolation, loneliness, psychological outcomes and other demographic factors.
AB - Objectives: To investigate sex-specific associations between social isolation and psychological outcomes and biomarkers among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults using a nationally representative population-based cohort study. Methods: Data from 757 participants from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) were retrieved for analysis, and all participants were stratified by sex. The associations between social isolation and psychological outcomes (loneliness, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment) at the 4-year follow-up were examined by multivariate logistic regression models, and associations between social isolation and biomarkers at the 4-year follow-up were examined by multivariate generalized linear models (GLMs). Results: For men, social isolation was not associated with the development of loneliness. However, being married (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.74], p<0.001) was associated with a lower risk of loneliness, indicating potential protective effects of marriage for men. On the other hand, social isolation was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of loneliness in women (aOR 2.26 [1.01-5.09], p<0.001). Social isolation was not associated with depressive symptoms after adjusting for other demographics. For men, being married (aOR 0.51 [0.26-0.99], p<0.05) or having good self-reported health (aOR 0.44 [0.21-0.92], p<0.05) was protective against depressive symptoms. For women, only good self-reported health (aOR 0.30 [0.13-0.70], p<0.01) provided protective effects against depressive symptoms. Similarly, other demographic factors (being married and having a higher educational level) but not social isolation were associated with lower risks of cognitive impairment. No significant associations were noted between social isolation and selected biomarkers. Conclusions: Sex-different associations between social isolation and loneliness were noted; the effects of demographic factors, such as being married, self-reported health status, and high education levels, on subsequent loneliness, depression, and cognitive function were also sex-different. Further intervention studies are needed to explore sex-specific approaches to deal with the interplay of social isolation, loneliness, psychological outcomes and other demographic factors.
KW - Biomarkers
KW - Cognition
KW - Depression
KW - Healthy aging
KW - Loneliness
KW - Mental health
KW - Social isolation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144013804&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104872
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104872
M3 - Article
C2 - 36493576
AN - SCOPUS:85144013804
SN - 0167-4943
VL - 106
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
M1 - 104872
ER -