Perceived loneliness and general cognitive status in community-dwelling older adults: the moderating influence of depression.
The relationship between depression, loneliness, and cognitive functioning among the elderly is not well understood in the literature. In the present study, we tested the moderating influence of depressive symptoms on loneliness and cognitive functioning. We recruited 100 community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong. Demographic information, perceived loneliness, depressed mood, and general cognitive status were assessed. Results indicated that married participants reported lower levels of perceived loneliness (t (96) = 2.26, p = .03). We found a significant moderating effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between perceived loneliness and general cognitive status (B = -.05, p = .002). Perceived loneliness correlated negatively with general cognitive status only in participants with higher levels of depressed mood (B = -.16, p = .01). Together, these findings suggest that perceived loneliness combined with depressed mood is related to poorer general cognitive status in older adults. The implications of these findings are discussed.
a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|b Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Charlene L M
CLM
Lam
a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|b Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Junhong
J
Yu
a Laboratory of Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|b Institute of Clinical Neuropsychology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.|c The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
Tatia M C
TMC
Lee
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Aging; depression; general cognitive status; loneliness