Relationship Between Hearing Loss and Depression Symptoms Among Older Adults in China: The Mediating Role of Social Isolation and Loneliness

Objectives: To evaluate whether social isolation and loneliness mediates the relationship between hearing loss and depression symptoms in older adults in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 3769 participants (aged≥60 years) in Shandong province of China. Hearing loss was assessed using Pure-Tone Audiometry test, depression symptoms using 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, loneliness through UCLA Loneliness Scale and social isolation using Lubben Social Network Scale. Regression and bootstrap analyses were performed to test both direct associations of hearing loss and depression symptoms, and whether the mediating role of social isolation and loneliness.

Results: Overall, 44% of older adults had hearing loss, which was generally mild (30%) rather than moderate (10%), severe (3%) or profound (0.6%). Increasing levels of hearing loss was associated with increasing levels of social isolation and depressions. Hearing loss was also associated with loneliness, but here a threshold effect was apparent and no trend for increasing loneliness with increasing hearing loss. Models that included social isolation and loneliness showed an amelioration in the association of hearing loss and depression, although it remained significant at all levels of hearing loss. Overall, 8% of the total effect of hearing loss on depression symptoms was explained by the mediated effect through social isolation and 42% by loneliness.

Conclusions: Psychosocial factors such as social isolation and loneliness might explain the association between hearing loss and depression. Interventions that address older adults' social isolation and loneliness may ameliorate depression in older adults with hearing loss.