Loneliness and self-rated health among church-attending African Americans

Felicia D. Fisher, Lorraine R. Reitzel, Nga Nguyen, Elaine J. Savoy, Pragati S. Advani, Adolfo G. Cuevas, Jennifer I. Vidrine, David W. Wetter, Lorna H. McNeill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To explore relations between loneliness and self-rated health among African-American adults of diverse ages. Methods: Associations between loneliness and self-rated health were investigated using covariate-adjusted linear regression models. Perceived social support was examined as a moderator. The potential indirect effects of stress and/or depressive symptoms were examined using nonparametric bootstrapping procedures. Results: Greater loneliness was associated with poorer self-rated health (p = .008), and social support did not moderate. Stress and depressive symptoms yielded significant indirect effects in single and multiple mediator models (p values ≤ 05). Conclusions: Loneliness may contribute to poorer health among African Americans. Results suggest that greater stress and depressive symptoms might underlie these associations, but longitudinal studies are needed to assess causal relations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)481-491
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican journal of health behavior
Volume38
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2014

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Loneliness
  • Self-rated health
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Biostatistics Resource Group

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