ArticleSSM - population health2021
Does social support mediate the effect of multimorbidity on mental wellbeing in the German working population? A longitudinal mediation analysis using structural equation modelling.
Article in SSM - population health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mediating role of family and workplace support on health-related quality of life among self-reported young adult cancer survivors: a cross-sectional observational study.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2026Observational
- The interplay of multimorbidity and depressive symptoms: mediation role of functional dependence.Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences · 2026Article
- Mediating effects between social capital and health care utilization in Italy-a structural equation model analysis.Population health metrics · 2025Article
- Social isolation, loneliness, and positive affect before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in very old adults living in Germany: a quasi-experimental multi-sample study.BMC geriatrics · 2025Article
- Examining Longitudinal Relationships between Social Support and Strain in Relationships with Children and Older Adults' Cognitive Functioning.Journal of health and social behavior · 2025Article
- The association between intensity-specific physical activity and the number of multiple chronic diseases among Chinese elderly: A study based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal study (CHARLS).Preventive medicine reports · 2024Article
- Preserving What Matters: Longitudinal Changes in Control Over Interpersonal Stress and Noninterpersonal Stress in Daily Life.The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences · 2024Article
- Skating on thin ice? Mental health and well-being in women's ice hockey.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2023Article
- Multimorbidity and Quality of Life: The Mediating Role of ADL, IADL, Loneliness, and Depressive Symptoms.Innovation in aging · 2023Article
- Multimorbidity and health-related quality of life among patients attending chronic outpatient medical care in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia: The application of partial proportional odds model.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
- Impact of Multimorbidity on Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Older Adults: Is There a Sex Difference?Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
This study provides insights into the longitudinal relation between multimorbidity, mental wellbeing, and social support. The analysis used the German Sociomedical Panel of Employees, a study of the German working population aged 40 to 54. In the context of multimorbidity, this population has been little studied. Multimorbidity is significantly associated with reduced mental wellbeing and social support, whereas social support increases mental wellbeing. We argue that, especially among the working population, multimorbidity reduces perceived social support and decreases mental wellbeing. We elaborate on the mediation process empirically by comparing two distinct structural equation models: a cross-lagged panel mediation model that models a potential reverse-causality between social support and mental wellbeing; and a synchronous mediation model that allows for more immediate mediation. Both models estimated significant mediation. The relative size of the mediation effect, however, varied widely based on the added mediational paths (8.57% vs. 28%). Fit statistics for both models were good, and the comparison did not favour either model. We conclude that theoretical reasoning must prevail over empirical testing. The cross-lagged model implies a more longitudinal (lagged) mediation process for social support. However, we suggest an immediate, flexible mediation as more plausible. Nevertheless, we suggest that cross-lagged models, when given a data structure and time gaps, reflect the social processes adequately.
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