TY - JOUR
T1 - The longitudinal relation between loneliness and perceived stress
T2 - A structural equation modelling analysis of 10,159 individuals
AU - Laustsen, Lisbeth M
AU - Christiansen, Julie
AU - Maindal, Helle T
AU - Plana-Ripoll, Oleguer
AU - Lasgaard, Mathias
PY - 2024/6
Y1 - 2024/6
N2 - Aims: Prolonged loneliness and severe stress are increasingly recognised as public health concerns and considered risk factors for mental disorders, somatic illnesses and mortality. Loneliness and perceived stress also often co-occur; however, their longitudinal relation remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study aiming to investigate the longitudinal relation between loneliness and perceived stress independently of cross-sectional associations and time effects. Methods: Designed as a population-based cohort study with repeated measurements, the present study included individuals aged 16–80 years at baseline who participated in the Danish National Health Survey (‘How are you?’) in 2013 and 2017 (N = 10,159; response rate = 50%). Structural equation modelling was used to examine associations between loneliness and perceived stress in the total sample and across age groups (i.e., 16–29, 30–64 and 65–80 years). Results: The models indicated bidirectional relations between loneliness and perceived stress. The standardized cross-lagged path from loneliness to perceived stress (β: 0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.08, 0.16), p < 0.001) and from perceived stress to loneliness (β: 0.12, 95% CI (0.07, 0.16), p < 0.001) both corresponded to small effect sizes in the total sample. Additionally, the results indicated strong cross-sectional associations, especially among adolescents and young adults (16–29 years), and high temporal stability, especially among the elderly (65–80 years). Conclusions: Loneliness and perceived stress mutually predict each other over time. The finding of both substantial bidirectional and cross-sectional associations demonstrates an interdependence between loneliness and perceived stress that may be relevant to consider in future interventions.
AB - Aims: Prolonged loneliness and severe stress are increasingly recognised as public health concerns and considered risk factors for mental disorders, somatic illnesses and mortality. Loneliness and perceived stress also often co-occur; however, their longitudinal relation remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study aiming to investigate the longitudinal relation between loneliness and perceived stress independently of cross-sectional associations and time effects. Methods: Designed as a population-based cohort study with repeated measurements, the present study included individuals aged 16–80 years at baseline who participated in the Danish National Health Survey (‘How are you?’) in 2013 and 2017 (N = 10,159; response rate = 50%). Structural equation modelling was used to examine associations between loneliness and perceived stress in the total sample and across age groups (i.e., 16–29, 30–64 and 65–80 years). Results: The models indicated bidirectional relations between loneliness and perceived stress. The standardized cross-lagged path from loneliness to perceived stress (β: 0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.08, 0.16), p < 0.001) and from perceived stress to loneliness (β: 0.12, 95% CI (0.07, 0.16), p < 0.001) both corresponded to small effect sizes in the total sample. Additionally, the results indicated strong cross-sectional associations, especially among adolescents and young adults (16–29 years), and high temporal stability, especially among the elderly (65–80 years). Conclusions: Loneliness and perceived stress mutually predict each other over time. The finding of both substantial bidirectional and cross-sectional associations demonstrates an interdependence between loneliness and perceived stress that may be relevant to consider in future interventions.
KW - elderly
KW - late adolescence
KW - Loneliness
KW - mental health
KW - middle aged
KW - psychological stress
KW - structural equation modelling
KW - young adult
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Loneliness/psychology
KW - Male
KW - Latent Class Analysis
KW - Young Adult
KW - Denmark/epidemiology
KW - Health Surveys
KW - Adolescent
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Adult
KW - Female
KW - Aged
KW - Longitudinal Studies
KW - Stress, Psychological/psychology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148433622&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/14034948231151716
DO - 10.1177/14034948231151716
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36794680
SN - 1403-4956
VL - 52
SP - 410
EP - 418
JO - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. Supplement
JF - Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. Supplement
IS - 4
ER -