Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40319272›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Impact of self-stigma of loneliness on psychological distress in older adults: mediation effect of relative deprivation and moderation effect of positive solitude.

Zhiguang Fan, Xiaoli Shi, Xinchang Lu, Jing Zhang, Li Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Self-stigma and suicide risk mediates the associations of inattention/impulsivity symptoms with psychological distress and quality of life among people with schizophrenia.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
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

5 authors.

Zhiguang FanDepartment of Psychology, School of Teacher Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoli ShiDepartment of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QJ, UK.
Xinchang LuDepartment of Psychology, School of Teacher Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, People's Republic of China.
Jing ZhangWuhan Jiangxia District No. 1 Middle School, Wuhan, 430000, People's Republic of China.
Li LiRural Revitalization Research Institute, Jilin Engineering Normal University, Changchun, 130052, People's Republic of China. p0wer316@163.com.

Funding

Jilin Province Science and Technology Department key research and development project 20230203104SF
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSelf-stigma of loneliness is a major predictor of psychological distress among older adults, but its mechanism has not been further discussed. Drawing on classical relative deprivation theory and conceptualizing stigma model, this study aimed to examine the relationship between self-stigma of loneliness and psychological distress among older people and analyzed the mediation effect of relative deprivation and the moderation effect of positive solitude.

methodsThe study applied a cross-sectional study design to conduct questionnaire survey by administrating the Stigma of Loneliness Scale (SLS), 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), Relative Deprivation Questionnaire, and Positive Solitude Scale (PS) among 1179 Chinese older adults. The Pearson correlation analysis explored the correlation between variables and Model 4 in PROCESS examined the mediating effect of relative deprivation. The moderating effect of positive solitude in the mediation model was tested through Model 59.

resultsThe correlation analysis shows a significant and positive correlation between the stigma of loneliness, relative deprivation, and psychological distress (r = 0.530 ~ 0.714); while positive solitude is significantly and negatively correlated with the stigma of loneliness, relative deprivation, and psychological distress (r = -0.128 ~ -0.179). Additionally, relative deprivation plays a mediating role in the relationship between self-stigma of loneliness and psychological distress. Meanwhile, it is invalid of the moderating effect of positive solitude in the direct path, first half of and second half of the path in the mediation model.

conclusionsSelf-stigma of loneliness could both directly affect psychological distress in older people and indirectly through the role of relative deprivation. Furthermore, positive solitude does not significantly buffer the impact of self-stigma of loneliness on relative deprivation and psychological distress. As research findings suggested, it is conducive to reducing psychological distress in older adults by adopting appropriate interventions to diminish self-stigma of loneliness and relative deprivation.

Indexed as

LonelinessPsychological DistressSelf ConceptSocial StigmaStress, PsychologicalAgedAged, 80 and overChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesOlder adultsPositive solitudePsychological distressRelative deprivationStigma of loneliness

Identifiers

PMID40319272
PMCPMC12049774

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.