Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40038605›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Core and bridge symptoms in self-perceived aging, depression, and anxiety among the elderly with multiple chronic conditions in Chinese communities: a network analysis perspective.

Bin Shang, Yinan Wang, Caifeng Luo, Fei Lv, Jing Wu, Xiao Shao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bin ShangDepartment of Nursing, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China.
Yinan WangSchool of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Jingkou District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, China.
Caifeng LuoSchool of Medicine, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Jingkou District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, China. lcf0105@163.com.
Fei LvDepartment of Nursing, Jiangsu University Jingjiang College, Zhenjiang, China.
Jing WuUniversity Hospital, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Changzhou, China.
Xiao ShaoEndoscopy Center, Suqian First People's Hospital, Suqian, China.

Funding

Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education Su Teacher's Letter (2023) No. 51
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious research has overlooked the role of self-perceived aging in the psychological well-being of older adults with multiple chronic conditions, and few studies have analyzed specific symptom interactions from a symptom network perspective. Our study aimed to explore the structure of the network among self-perceived aging, depression, and anxiety in community-dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

methodsThis was a cross-sectional survey conducted using convenience sampling from four prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province, China, between November 2022 and May 2023. A total of 478 participants were included in the analysis. The Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) were used to assess self-perceived aging, depression, and anxiety among older adults. Network analysis was performed using R to explore the interrelationships among symptoms in the network and identify the core symptoms and bridge symptoms.

resultsNetwork analysis revealed that, after controlling for covariates, the node S5 ('Emotional-Representations') had the highest strength, followed by D7 ('Meaningless'), S2 ('Consequences-Positive'), S1 ('Consequences and Control Negative'), and D6 ('Worthless'). Furthermore, based on the bridge strength values, A5 ('Panic'), D7 ('Meaningless'), and S5 ('Emotional-Representations') were identified as bridge symptoms connecting self-perceived aging, depression, and anxiety. The study also identified several strong edge weight, most of which were linked to core symptoms and bridge symptoms.

conclusionThe study suggests that targeting "Emotional-Representations" as a core symptom can be effective in addressing psychological issues in older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Furthermore, preventing and inhibiting bridge symptoms such as "panic," "Meaningless," and "Emotional-Representations" could be potentially effective prevent widespread activation of symptoms (e.g., from self-perceived aging to depression).

Indexed as

AgingAnxietyDepressionMultiple Chronic ConditionsSelf ConceptAgedAged, 80 and overChinaChronic DiseaseCross-Sectional StudiesEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansIndependent LivingMaleMiddle AgedAnxietyDepressionElderlyMultiple chronic conditionsNetwork analysisSelf-Perceived aging

Identifiers

PMID40038605
PMCPMC11877722

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.