ArticleBMC public health2020
How do lifestyle choices affect the link between living alone and psychological distress in older age? Results from the AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB study.
Article in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Loneliness trajectories surrounding mobility loss: the role of disability duration.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2026Article
- Social isolation in mid-life: associations with psychological distress, life satisfaction and self-rated health in two successive British birth cohorts.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2026Article
- The Relationship Between a Sustainable Healthy Lifestyle and Depression, Stress, and Anxiety: A Structural Model on the Mediating Role of Physical Literacy.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Daily exercises uptake and associated factors among Social Security and National Insurance Trust pensioners in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024Article
- Smaller household size and higher prevalence of serious psychological distress in younger people and never-married people: a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Japan.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Living alone and mental health: parallel analyses in UK longitudinal population surveys and electronic health records prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.BMJ mental health · 2023Article
- Association of Co-Living and Age on the Type of Sports Practiced by Older People.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- An integrative review on individual determinants of enrolment in National Health Insurance Scheme among older adults in Ghana.BMC primary care · 2022Review
- Effect and mechanism of reading habits on physical and mental health among the elderly: Evidence from China.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Physical Activity, Loneliness, and Meaning of Friendship in Young Individuals - A Mixed-Methods Investigation Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic With Three Cross-Sectional Studies.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
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3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
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Abstract
backgroundSocial isolation is widespread and strongly associated with worsening health-related outcomes across the life-course. Despite this broad base of knowledge, there is a paucity of research on the interactive effect of lifestyle choices and living arrangements on later life psychological state particularly in low- and middle-income settings. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of living alone on psychological distress in older people and to explore the protective roles of social participation and physical activity participation.
methodsWe used cross-sectional data from the 2016-17 Aging, Health, Psychological Well-being and Health-seeking Behavior Study (AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB) involving a representative sample of 1200 adults aged 50+ years in Ghana. The study focused on a latent measure of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and on the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ). Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models evaluated the interactive effects of living arrangements and lifestyle choices on the K10 score.
resultsLiving alone was independent predictor of psychological distress in the overall sample, among females, urban dwellers and all age groups. However, lifestyle choices of physical activity and social participation significantly moderated these associations. Moreover, in the stratified analysis, physical activity moderated the association for males, rural-dwellers and those 65+ years whilst social participation moderated the association for females, urban-dwellers and those 50-64 years.
conclusionsLifestyle choices i.e. social participation and physical activity, and demographic factors i.e. age, gender, and residential status strongly attenuate the positive association of living alone with the risk of psychological distress in older age. These findings may inform intervention initiatives targeted at improving mental health of chronically detached and isolated older people.
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