Autoregressive Cross-lagged Modelling of the Relationship Between Social Activity, Depressive Symptoms, and Cognitive Function in Korean Elderly

Background: This study aimed to verify the reciprocal relationship between social activity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in Korean elderly, utilizing data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (conducted by the Korea Employment Information Service biennially from 2006 to 2018).

Methods: The data of 5549 people aged 60 and over (mean age 70.27 years, standard deviation = 7.26) were used in the final analysis. Autoregressive cross-lagged analysis was used to examine bidirectional relationships between the variables over time. Frequency of participation in social activities, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination were used to measure social activity, depressive symptoms, and cognitive function.

Results: Results of the analysis were as follows. First, social activity was found to have a negative effect on depressive symptoms over time, but depressive symptoms did not affect social activity. Second, a bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive function was identified. In other words, more depressive symptoms were related to lower cognitive function, and cognitive function had a negative impact on depressive symptoms over time. Third, social activity was found to positively affect cognitive function, but cognitive function did not affect social activity over time.

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that social activity is closely related to depressive symptoms and cognitive function in the elderly, and suggests that social activity can be a key preventive factor for depression and cognitive impairment in this population.