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. 2021 Aug 29;5(4):igab034.
doi: 10.1093/geroni/igab034. eCollection 2021.

Age-Related Differences of Rumination on the Loneliness-Depression Relationship: Evidence From a Population-Representative Cohort

Horace Tong  1   2 , Wai Kai Hou  3   4 , Li Liang  4 , Tsz Wai Li  4 , Huinan Liu  3   4 , Tatia M C Lee  1   2
Affiliations

Age-Related Differences of Rumination on the Loneliness-Depression Relationship: Evidence From a Population-Representative Cohort

Horace Tong et al. Innov Aging. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: This study examined the association of loneliness with depressive symptoms across various age groups. Loneliness is a significant risk factor for precipitating depressive symptoms. Rumination, a mechanism that underpins depression, can become intense when a person feels lonely. In addition, age is a major factor associated with changes in mental and physical health. Thus, the importance of rumination and age in moderating the loneliness-depression link were investigated.

Research design and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the acute phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Hong Kong (February 27 to March 17, 2020). A population-representative sample of 1,972 people (1,107 females; 18-92 years of age) was recruited and interviewed via telephone through random digit dialing. This sample included 394 younger adults (18-30 years), 1,106 middle-aged adults (31-64 years), and 472 older adults (65 years or above). Respondents reported depressive symptoms, subjective loneliness, state rumination, and sociodemographic factors.

Results: Loneliness and rumination were positively associated with depressive symptoms, and they significantly interacted in predicting cognitive-affective symptoms. Further analysis of age showed that the interaction was significant only in middle-aged adults and older adults. Both rumination and age interacted with loneliness, respectively, in predicting cognitive-affective symptoms.

Discussion and implications: These findings indicate that the strength of the association between loneliness and the cognitive-affective symptoms of depression depends on rumination levels and age. An intervention to regulate rumination offers a feasible direction for health care and social care aimed at improving older adults' mental health.

Keywords: Age difference; COVID-19; Depression; Loneliness; Rumination.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The three-way interaction plot illustrating simple slopes of loneliness on cognitive-affective depressive symptoms at different age points and rumination levels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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