Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study
Abstract Background Loneliness is a global public health concern. Investigating loneliness in the general population offers a greater generalizability across various levels of health-related impairments, the identification of at-risk individuals, the detection of different loneliness severity levels...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100552/type/journal_article |
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| author | Błażej Misiak Paweł Liśkiewicz Jerzy Samochowiec |
| author_facet | Błażej Misiak Paweł Liśkiewicz Jerzy Samochowiec |
| author_sort | Błażej Misiak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Background
Loneliness is a global public health concern. Investigating loneliness in the general population offers a greater generalizability across various levels of health-related impairments, the identification of at-risk individuals, the detection of different loneliness severity levels, and broader insights into social determinants. Previous studies have shown that loneliness might be a transient or chronic experience, depending on how consistently it is reported across at least two timepoints. This study aimed to assess differential associations of chronic and transient with various domains of psychopathology.
Methods
Participants were enrolled from the general population and assessed at two timepoints spanning 6–7 months. Depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and paranoid thoughts were measured using self-reports. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regressions.
Results
Altogether, 3,275 participants completed both assessments with a retention rate of 64.2%. Chronic loneliness was associated with higher baseline and follow-up scores across all symptom domains. The strongest association was observed for social anxiety. Transient loneliness was not robustly associated with symptom scores. It was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (at either of timepoints) and paranoid ideation (at baseline). The strongest association was observed for generalized anxiety. Chronic loneliness, compared to transient loneliness, was associated with significantly higher odds of social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and paranoid ideation, but not generalized anxiety.
Conclusions
Both transient and chronic loneliness are associated with mental health outcomes, with the latter one showing generally stronger associations. Risk stratification and early intervention among individuals experiencing loneliness might be needed to prevent the development of more severe psychopathology.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e81cc5f50dc40a787d6fe40e05729a1 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e81cc5f50dc40a787d6fe40e05729a12025-07-11T07:49:34ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852025-01-016810.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10055Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal studyBłażej Misiak0Paweł Liśkiewicz1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3375-4856Jerzy Samochowiec2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1438-583XDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01qpw1b93 Wroclaw Medical University , Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01v1rak05 Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/01v1rak05 Pomeranian Medical University , Szczecin, PolandAbstract Background Loneliness is a global public health concern. Investigating loneliness in the general population offers a greater generalizability across various levels of health-related impairments, the identification of at-risk individuals, the detection of different loneliness severity levels, and broader insights into social determinants. Previous studies have shown that loneliness might be a transient or chronic experience, depending on how consistently it is reported across at least two timepoints. This study aimed to assess differential associations of chronic and transient with various domains of psychopathology. Methods Participants were enrolled from the general population and assessed at two timepoints spanning 6–7 months. Depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and paranoid thoughts were measured using self-reports. The data were analyzed using binary logistic regressions. Results Altogether, 3,275 participants completed both assessments with a retention rate of 64.2%. Chronic loneliness was associated with higher baseline and follow-up scores across all symptom domains. The strongest association was observed for social anxiety. Transient loneliness was not robustly associated with symptom scores. It was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (at either of timepoints) and paranoid ideation (at baseline). The strongest association was observed for generalized anxiety. Chronic loneliness, compared to transient loneliness, was associated with significantly higher odds of social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and paranoid ideation, but not generalized anxiety. Conclusions Both transient and chronic loneliness are associated with mental health outcomes, with the latter one showing generally stronger associations. Risk stratification and early intervention among individuals experiencing loneliness might be needed to prevent the development of more severe psychopathology. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100552/type/journal_articleanxiety disorderdepressionparanoiaperceived social isolationsocial disconnection |
| spellingShingle | Błażej Misiak Paweł Liśkiewicz Jerzy Samochowiec Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study European Psychiatry anxiety disorder depression paranoia perceived social isolation social disconnection |
| title | Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study |
| title_full | Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study |
| title_short | Temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes: Observations from a longitudinal study |
| title_sort | temporal patterns of loneliness and their associations with mental health outcomes observations from a longitudinal study |
| topic | anxiety disorder depression paranoia perceived social isolation social disconnection |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933825100552/type/journal_article |
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