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Associations between loneliness severity and depression and suicidal ideation among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Title: Associations between loneliness severity and depression and suicidal ideation among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors: Yang, Kevin H. (AUTHOR), Kepner, Wayne (AUTHOR), Satybaldiyeva, Nora (AUTHOR), Bergstrom, Jaclyn (AUTHOR), Moore, Alison A. (AUTHOR), Lee, Ellen E. (AUTHOR)
Source: Aging & Mental Health. May2026, Vol. 30 Issue 5, p1114-1123. 10p.
Subjects: Mental depression risk factors, Risk assessment, Suicidal ideation, Research funding, Secondary analysis, Sex distribution, Questionnaires, Loneliness, Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, Relative medical risk, Age distribution, Severity of illness index, Odds ratio, Analysis of variance, Marital status, Confidence intervals, Data analysis software, Social support, COVID-19 pandemic, Regression analysis, Old age
Abstract: Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated loneliness among older adults. This study evaluates the relationship between loneliness, depression, and suicidal ideation in this population during the early pandemic by utilizing data from the All of Us (AoU) Research Program. Method: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 17,084 individuals aged ≥65 enrolled in the AoU Research Program who completed a COVID-19 related survey in May 2020. Participants were categorized into loneliness quartiles based on their UCLA Loneliness Scale Short Form-8 scores. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed demographic differences. Poisson regression models with robust standard errors tested associations between loneliness quartiles and both depression and suicidal ideation, adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, employment status, housing status, health insurance status, and social support. Results: Among 17,084 participants (mean age 72.0 years [SD 5.3], 55% female, 89% White), we found a clear stepwise pattern: as loneliness increased, so did the risk of depression and suicidal ideation. Compared to the lowest loneliness quartile, those in the highest loneliness quartile were approximately 25 times more likely to experience moderate-to-severe depression (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 25.09, 95% CI: 16.63–37.84) and 44 times more likely to report suicidal ideation (aRR = 44.31, 95% CI: 19.69-99.71). Intermediate loneliness levels (quartiles 2–3) also showed elevated risks (depression aRRs: 2.45, 7.33; suicidal ideation aRRs: 4.03, 11.87). Conclusion: Increasing levels of loneliness were associated with greater risk of depression and suicidal ideation among older adults during the early pandemic, underscoring the need for targeted loneliness interventions for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Aging & Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Associations between loneliness severity and depression and suicidal ideation among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Kevin+H%2E%22">Yang, Kevin H.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kepner%2C+Wayne%22">Kepner, Wayne</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Satybaldiyeva%2C+Nora%22">Satybaldiyeva, Nora</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bergstrom%2C+Jaclyn%22">Bergstrom, Jaclyn</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moore%2C+Alison+A%2E%22">Moore, Alison A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lee%2C+Ellen+E%2E%22">Lee, Ellen E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Aging+%26+Mental+Health%22">Aging & Mental Health</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 30 Issue 5, p1114-1123. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+depression+risk+factors%22">Mental depression risk factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+assessment%22">Risk assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Suicidal+ideation%22">Suicidal ideation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+analysis%22">Secondary analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+distribution%22">Sex distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loneliness%22">Loneliness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chi-squared+test%22">Chi-squared test</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relative+medical+risk%22">Relative medical risk</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+distribution%22">Age distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Severity+of+illness+index%22">Severity of illness index</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Odds+ratio%22">Odds ratio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Analysis+of+variance%22">Analysis of variance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Marital+status%22">Marital status</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Confidence+intervals%22">Confidence intervals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19+pandemic%22">COVID-19 pandemic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Regression+analysis%22">Regression analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Old+age%22">Old age</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated loneliness among older adults. This study evaluates the relationship between loneliness, depression, and suicidal ideation in this population during the early pandemic by utilizing data from the All of Us (AoU) Research Program. Method: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 17,084 individuals aged ≥65 enrolled in the AoU Research Program who completed a COVID-19 related survey in May 2020. Participants were categorized into loneliness quartiles based on their UCLA Loneliness Scale Short Form-8 scores. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests assessed demographic differences. Poisson regression models with robust standard errors tested associations between loneliness quartiles and both depression and suicidal ideation, adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, employment status, housing status, health insurance status, and social support. Results: Among 17,084 participants (mean age 72.0 years [SD 5.3], 55% female, 89% White), we found a clear stepwise pattern: as loneliness increased, so did the risk of depression and suicidal ideation. Compared to the lowest loneliness quartile, those in the highest loneliness quartile were approximately 25 times more likely to experience moderate-to-severe depression (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 25.09, 95% CI: 16.63–37.84) and 44 times more likely to report suicidal ideation (aRR = 44.31, 95% CI: 19.69-99.71). Intermediate loneliness levels (quartiles 2–3) also showed elevated risks (depression aRRs: 2.45, 7.33; suicidal ideation aRRs: 4.03, 11.87). Conclusion: Increasing levels of loneliness were associated with greater risk of depression and suicidal ideation among older adults during the early pandemic, underscoring the need for targeted loneliness interventions for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Aging & Mental Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2612734
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 1114
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression risk factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suicidal ideation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Secondary analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chi-squared test
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Relative medical risk
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Severity of illness index
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Odds ratio
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Analysis of variance
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      – SubjectFull: Marital status
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      – SubjectFull: Confidence intervals
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      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
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      – SubjectFull: Social support
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      – SubjectFull: COVID-19 pandemic
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      – SubjectFull: Regression analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Old age
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Associations between loneliness severity and depression and suicidal ideation among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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