Curbing the mental health risks associated with loneliness in older adults: The role of friend support
Major
Psychology
Second Major
Business
Submission Type
Poster
Area of Study or Work
Psychology
Faculty Advisor
Mignon Montpetit Jolly, Ph.D.
Location
CNS Atrium
Start Date
4-11-2026 8:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2026 9:45 AM
Abstract
Recently, the United States Surgeon General declared a loneliness epidemic, with 1 in 2 older adults reporting loneliness symptoms, putting these lonely individuals at risk of depression (HHS, 2023). Current research suggests that the source of social support matters, and that friends and family contribute differently to the well-being of older adults. The current study focused on friend support, exploring how this resource impacts the relationship between loneliness and depression. Data from 110 adults aged 61 to 94 (M=72.8 years; SD=6.4 years) on loneliness, friend support, and depression were analyzed for potential mediating and moderating relationships. Results indicated that loneliness and friend support are independent of one another (β = 1.07, p = .1233, R² = .02), ruling out the possibility of mediation (whereby perceived friend support would be a vehicle by which loneliness impacts depression). Instead, friend support moderated this relationship (β = 0.21, p = .007), indicating that friend support modulates the impact of loneliness on depression. Results suggest that augmenting perceptions of friend support (which are amenable to change; Hsu, et al., 2024) could decrease loneliness, lowering depression risk and protecting mental health.
Curbing the mental health risks associated with loneliness in older adults: The role of friend support
CNS Atrium
Recently, the United States Surgeon General declared a loneliness epidemic, with 1 in 2 older adults reporting loneliness symptoms, putting these lonely individuals at risk of depression (HHS, 2023). Current research suggests that the source of social support matters, and that friends and family contribute differently to the well-being of older adults. The current study focused on friend support, exploring how this resource impacts the relationship between loneliness and depression. Data from 110 adults aged 61 to 94 (M=72.8 years; SD=6.4 years) on loneliness, friend support, and depression were analyzed for potential mediating and moderating relationships. Results indicated that loneliness and friend support are independent of one another (β = 1.07, p = .1233, R² = .02), ruling out the possibility of mediation (whereby perceived friend support would be a vehicle by which loneliness impacts depression). Instead, friend support moderated this relationship (β = 0.21, p = .007), indicating that friend support modulates the impact of loneliness on depression. Results suggest that augmenting perceptions of friend support (which are amenable to change; Hsu, et al., 2024) could decrease loneliness, lowering depression risk and protecting mental health.