Published in:
01-12-2018
Why Is Social Isolation Among Older Adults Associated with Depressive Symptoms? The Mediating Role of Out-of-Home Physical Activity
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 6/2018
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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.