Loneliness, Resilience, Mental Health, and Quality of Life in Old Age: A Structural Equation Model

Abstract

Objectives: In the scientific literature on aging, a recent core issue has been the role of individuals' internal and external resources, which are considered intrinsically connected, in contributing synergistically to physical and psychological quality of life (QoL). The current study investigates the way in which psychological factors—such as, loneliness, resilience, and mental states, in terms of depression and anxiety symptoms—affect the perceived QoL among elderly individuals.Method: Data from 290 elderly Italian participants were used to study the mediation effects of both mental health and resilience to elucidate the relationship between loneliness and psychophysical QoL.Results: The best model we obtained supports the mediation effect of both resilience and mental health between loneliness and mental and physical QoL. These results highlight that loneliness influences mental and physical QoL via two pathways, with the impact of loneliness mediated by mental health and resilience dimensions.Conclusions: The findings suggest the importance of the support that elderly people receive from social relationships. In terms of clinical interventions, the reduction of loneliness could be an important factor in primary prevention or the recovery process. A way to reduce levels of mental distress could be represented by the increasing of resilience and self-efficacy and reduction of loneliness dissatisfaction. A high degree of resiliency contributes to increasing perceived life quality at the physical and psychological levels, and at the same time, reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Resilience and affect balance of empty‐nest older adults with mild cognitive impairment in poor rural areas of Hunan province, China

“…However, few studies have explored the interrelationship among resilience, affect balance and MCI to date. According to the structural regression model of loneliness, resilience and mental health, the higher level of resilience contributes to less anxiety and depression, and higher perceived well‐being level and life quality in the end . Resilience includes acceptance of the disease, the enhanced ability to deal with adverse conditions and regulation of emotions, which can develop an individual ’ s cognitive function.…”

“…Recent MCI research has focused more attention on the protective factors and resources than just the weaknesses and deficiencies within this group. This research holds the view that resilience and affect balance are protective factors in the later life stage of empty‐nest older adults . The American Psychological Association (2011) defines resilience as a defense mechanism that enables people to deal with stress, restore equilibrium and work toward a stronger self .…”

“…This research holds the view that resilience and affect balance are protective factors in the later life stage of empty-nest older adults. 8 The American Psychological Association (2011) defines resilience as a defense mechanism that enables people to deal with stress, restore equilibrium and work toward a stronger self. 9 Affect balance includes positive affect and negative affect; it is an accurate index that reflects happiness and mental health of older people.…”

“…8 The American Psychological Association (2011) defines resilience as a defense mechanism that enables people to deal with stress, restore equilibrium and work toward a stronger self. 9 Affect balance includes positive affect and negative affect; it is an accurate index that reflects happiness and mental health of older people. 10 Researchers have studied the application of resilience and affect balance, and have concluded that resilience and affect balance can assist older adults in coping with and enacting solutions to adversity, which also helps to improve their overall quality of life.…”

Health‐related quality of life and related factors among a sample of older people with cognitive impairment

“…According to previous research, loneliness and social isolation were associated with mental illness in old age (Loboprabhu & Molinari, ; Wenger, Davies, Shahtahmasebi, & Scott, ; Wilkes, ). Studies also found that the absence of loneliness was related to a good QoL among older adults (Gerino, Rollè, Sechi, & Brustia, ; Kang, Park, and Wallace (Hernandez) ()). However, according to other research, loneliness was distinct from social isolation, with the former linked to the absence of an intimate relationship (emotional loneliness) or a wider social network (social loneliness) (de Jong‐Gierveld, van Tilburg, & Dykstra, ).…”