Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40478836›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

The various effect of social isolation on depression risk among old population in China during covid-19 pandemic: A population based survey.

Zhenjie Wang, Yongai Jin, Wanning Tian, Xun Zhou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Zhenjie WangInstitute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1717-5790
Yongai JinCenter for Population and Development Studies, School of Population and Health, Renmin University of China, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Wanning TianInstitute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xun ZhouSchool of Publishing, Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Beijing, People's Republic of China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0935-9592

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aim of the current study is to assess various effect of social isolation on depression risk among older adults during COVID-19 in China.

methodsData was obtained from the China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey (CLASS) conducted in 2020. A total of 9883 participants were included. Depression status was assessed by 9-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Social isolation was assessed by Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6). The odds ratios of depression risk according to LSNS-6 categories were obtained using a logistic regression model with adjustment for potential confounding variables.

resultsThe prevalence of depression was 31.2%, and the presence of social isolation was 37.9% during the COVID-19 among older population. A decrease in depression risk was observed with reduced isolation. The odds ratio for the lowest versus highest was 0.75 (95% confidence interval: 0.63, 0.89; Ptrend = 0.012). Friend support reduced depression risk more significantly than family support. The association between LSNS-6 friend subscale and depression risk was differentiated by LSNS-6 family subscale. In men, LSNS-6 friend subscale tended to be associated with depression risk inversely when their LSNS-6 family subscale was less than 6 (interaction P = 0.041). Similar associations and stratified modifications were observed among those who lived in rural areas (interaction P = 0.002), married (interaction P = 0.003), Han (interaction P = 0.01), lived with others (interaction P = 0.001), and so on.

conclusionsMost depression cases were found to be strongly associated with social isolation during the pandemic. Our findings have provided empirical evidence for researchers to understand the association between social isolation and depression, which could help them evaluate and manage depression promptly. Because of the cross-sectional design, we cannot establish causal relationships between depression and isolation.

Indexed as

COVID-19DepressionSocial IsolationAgedAged, 80 and overChinaFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPrevalenceRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2Social Support

Identifiers

PMID40478836
PMCPMC12143535

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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.