Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans
Abstract Background This study examines associations among social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive health risks in older Korean Americans, focusing on the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between social isolation and objective and subjective measures of cognitive impairment. Meth...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02066-4 |
| _version_ | 1818608113911070720 |
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| author | Yuri Jang Eun Young Choi Nan Sook Park David A. Chiriboga Lei Duan Miyong T. Kim |
| author_facet | Yuri Jang Eun Young Choi Nan Sook Park David A. Chiriboga Lei Duan Miyong T. Kim |
| author_sort | Yuri Jang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study examines associations among social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive health risks in older Korean Americans, focusing on the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between social isolation and objective and subjective measures of cognitive impairment. Methods Data are from 2061 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans, a multi-state survey of Korean immigrants age 60 and older (M age = 73.2, SD = 7.93). Social isolation was indexed with the Lubben Social Network Scale− 6; loneliness, with the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale. Objective and subjective measures of cognitive impairment included the Mini-Mental State Examination and a single-item self-rating of cognitive health. Results In the logistic regression model for objective cognitive impairment, social isolation was significantly associated, but loneliness was not. In the model for subjective cognitive impairment, both social isolation and loneliness were significant factors. However, the effect of social isolation became non-significant when loneliness was considered, suggesting a potential mediating role of loneliness. The subsequent mediation analysis confirmed that the indirect effect of social isolation on subjective cognitive impairment through loneliness was significant (B = .20, SE = .03, 95% CI = .12, .28). Conclusion Our analyses provide evidence for the proposed mediating effect of loneliness in the relationship between social isolation and subjective cognitive impairment. Intervention efforts should focus on reducing feelings of loneliness experienced by older immigrants, possibly by engaging them in socially meaningful and cognitively stimulating activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:37:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a1c090710b54a79a7c48898aca66327 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:37:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a1c090710b54a79a7c48898aca663272022-12-21T22:28:03ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182021-02-012111810.1186/s12877-021-02066-4Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean AmericansYuri Jang0Eun Young Choi1Nan Sook Park2David A. Chiriboga3Lei Duan4Miyong T. Kim5Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern CaliforniaLeonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern CaliforniaSchool of Social Work, University of South FloridaDepartment of Child and Family Studies, University of South FloridaSuzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern CaliforniaSchool of Nursing, University of Texas at AustinAbstract Background This study examines associations among social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive health risks in older Korean Americans, focusing on the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between social isolation and objective and subjective measures of cognitive impairment. Methods Data are from 2061 participants in the Study of Older Korean Americans, a multi-state survey of Korean immigrants age 60 and older (M age = 73.2, SD = 7.93). Social isolation was indexed with the Lubben Social Network Scale− 6; loneliness, with the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale. Objective and subjective measures of cognitive impairment included the Mini-Mental State Examination and a single-item self-rating of cognitive health. Results In the logistic regression model for objective cognitive impairment, social isolation was significantly associated, but loneliness was not. In the model for subjective cognitive impairment, both social isolation and loneliness were significant factors. However, the effect of social isolation became non-significant when loneliness was considered, suggesting a potential mediating role of loneliness. The subsequent mediation analysis confirmed that the indirect effect of social isolation on subjective cognitive impairment through loneliness was significant (B = .20, SE = .03, 95% CI = .12, .28). Conclusion Our analyses provide evidence for the proposed mediating effect of loneliness in the relationship between social isolation and subjective cognitive impairment. Intervention efforts should focus on reducing feelings of loneliness experienced by older immigrants, possibly by engaging them in socially meaningful and cognitively stimulating activities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02066-4Older Korean AmericansSocial isolationLonelinessCognitive impairment |
| spellingShingle | Yuri Jang Eun Young Choi Nan Sook Park David A. Chiriboga Lei Duan Miyong T. Kim Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans BMC Geriatrics Older Korean Americans Social isolation Loneliness Cognitive impairment |
| title | Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans |
| title_full | Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans |
| title_short | Cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older Korean Americans |
| title_sort | cognitive health risks posed by social isolation and loneliness in older korean americans |
| topic | Older Korean Americans Social isolation Loneliness Cognitive impairment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02066-4 |
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