Mediating role of neuroticism in the association between loneliness and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults

Foong HF; Hamid TA; Ibrahim R; Haron SA

doi:10.1111/ajag.12555

Mediating role of neuroticism in the association between loneliness and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults

Foong HF ¹ , Hamid TA ¹ , Ibrahim R ² , Haron SA ¹

Affiliations

¹ Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
² Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia

Australas J Ageing, 2018 Jun 26.

PMID: 29947130 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12555

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to examine whether neuroticism mediates the association between loneliness and cognitive function in older adults.

METHODS: This study involved 2322 representative community residents aged 60-92 years in Peninsular Malaysia. Cognition was measured by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), loneliness was assessed by three-item loneliness scale, and neuroticism was assessed by the Short-Form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple linear regression and Sobel tests were used for mediation analyses.

RESULTS: Both loneliness (β = -0.04, P = 0.03) and neuroticism (β = -0.07, P < 0.001) were negatively and significantly associated with cognitive function, and most importantly, neuroticism mediated the association between loneliness and cognition (from β = -0.04, P = 0.03 to β = -0.03, P = 0.10).

CONCLUSION: Neuroticism may be the potential mechanism underlying the relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in older persons.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.