Wang Meng, Li Weitong, Ding Zichun, Chen Junyu, Mei Ziqi, Song Yulei, Bai Yamei, Wang Xiaofeng, Xu Guihua
School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, PR China.
Wang Jing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
Geriatr Nurs. 2025 Jan-Feb;61:589-595. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.12.027. Epub 2025 Jan 6.
Social isolation is a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms in older adults, with social support and resilience serving as protective factors. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood.
A cross-sectional survey was performed of 1020 participants (aged ≥ 60years) in the northern, central and southern parts of Jiangsu Province, China. A general information questionnaire, the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10, and the Geriatric Depression Scale-5 were used. This study investigated the complex interplay among social isolation, social support, resilience, and depressive symptoms. Using the bootstrapping approach, serial multiple mediation models were constructed to explore the potential serial mediating roles of social support and resilience in the link between social isolation and depression.
Lower level of social isolation scores (coefficient = -0.2441, p < 0.001), lower level of social support (coefficient = -0.2368, p < 0.001) and lower level of resilience (coefficient = -0.1594, p < 0.001), were significantly associated with higher level of depressive symptoms. Social support and resilience in serial, mediated the relationship between social isolation scores and depressive symptoms (total effect: coefficient = -0.4526, 95 % CI [-0.0351, -0.0219]; total direct effect: coefficient = -0.2441, 95 % CI [-0.0423, -0.0240]; total indirect effect: coefficient = -0.2085, 95 % CI [-0.2531, -0.1642]).
Greater attention should be devoted to enhancing social support for Chinese older adults facing social isolation, which could foster higher resilience to prevent the onset of depressive symptoms. It is critical in driving the progress of mental health among aging community.
社会孤立是老年人出现抑郁症状的一个重要风险因素，社会支持和心理韧性是保护因素。然而，这种关联背后的机制尚不清楚。
对中国江苏省北部、中部和南部的1020名参与者（年龄≥60岁）进行了横断面调查。使用了一份一般信息问卷、鲁本社会网络量表-6、感知社会支持量表、康纳-戴维森心理韧性量表-10和老年抑郁量表-5。本研究调查了社会孤立、社会支持、心理韧性和抑郁症状之间的复杂相互作用。采用自抽样法构建系列多重中介模型，以探讨社会支持和心理韧性在社会孤立与抑郁之间联系中的潜在系列中介作用。
社会孤立得分较低（系数=-0.2441，p<0.001）、社会支持水平较低（系数=-0.2368，p<0.001）和心理韧性水平较低（系数=-0.1594，p<0.001）与较高的抑郁症状水平显著相关。社会支持和心理韧性依次介导了社会孤立得分与抑郁症状之间的关系（总效应：系数=-0.4526，95%CI[-0.0351，-0.0219]；总直接效应：系数=-0.2441，95%CI[-0.0423，-0.0240]；总间接效应：系数=-0.2085，95%CI[-0.2531，-0.1642]）。
应更加关注为面临社会孤立的中国老年人增强社会支持，这可以培养更高的心理韧性，以预防抑郁症状的发作。这对于推动老年群体心理健康的进展至关重要。
