Symptom profiles of late‐life anxiety and depression: The influence of migration, religion and loneliness

Abstract

Objective To examine (1) clinically relevant anxiety with comorbid depression in an older population, and the presentation of subthreshold symptoms; (2) to assess anxiety and levels of comorbid depression associated with migration, religion, loneliness and long‐term illness. Methods Analysis of Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (2009‐2011). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to define indicative diagnoses of anxiety and depression. We then assessed associations between sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, past migration, religious practice, social network, loneliness and long‐term illness. Results For those with clinically relevant anxiety, LCA derived three classes of self‐reported depression: low, subthreshold and high. Approximately 19% were comorbid, and a further 37% reported subthreshold depression. Compared to those with low/no symptoms of depression, those classed as comorbid were more likely to be male, had lower education levels, had spent more time abroad, lower religious attendance, a limited social network, were lonelier and had a long‐term life‐limiting illness. Those with subthreshold levels of depression reported a more restricted social network and more moderate levels of loneliness. Conclusion Findings support the actuality of comorbidity of both disorders. Consequently, government health strategy on detecting and managing social engagement, loneliness, and psychological disorders in older people may require a more granulated approach.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Multi-Country Study

“…Those who reported poorer mental health also showed greater risk, consistent with other evidence on loneliness and mental health in general [ 47 ] as well as risk of loneliness during the pandemic specifically [ 15 , 18 , 47 ]; indeed, we noted a four-fold increased risk of severe loneliness during the pandemic. As others have suggested, the relationships and pathways between poor mental health and loneliness are often connected, with many shared and socially excluding factors linked to both conditions, e.g., stigma, anxiety, low self-esteem and motivation [ 30 ]. As with other studies [ 15 , 21 ], we found that people most likely to report loneliness are those who also considered themselves financially insecure.…”

“…Loneliness was assessed by the modified 5-item UCLA loneliness scale, which has been validated in previous studies [27][28][29][30][31][32]. This included items relating to how often respondents feel "lonely" and "in tune with" the people around them (reverse scored) in addition to the 3 items in the short UCLA scale [33].…”

Anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects of ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula in mice

“…According to the recent reports, depression and anxiety are considered as the major psychiatric disorders around the world particularly in the Western region. 29 , 30 It is well known that both of the disorders affect the daily life of the human beings. At present number of drugs are available in the markets for depression and anxiety disorders.…”

The relationship between depression and loneliness levels of the students at the faculty of health sciences and the factors affecting them

“…As a result of their study on university students, Diehl et al found that social loneliness increased the levels of depression and anxiety. Curran et al reported that social loneliness and having fewer close ties are significant characteristics of the lives of those who have comorbid anxiety and depression/subthreshold depression. In Beutel et al's study, it was found that loneliness plays a role in health problems such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.…”