A 5-year longitudinal structural equation model of social isolation and probable major depression among participants with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE

To develop longitudinal structural models of social isolation and probable major depression (PMD) over a 5-year interval among participants with spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

Longitudinal structural equation modeling of self-report assessments collected during two follow-ups (2013 as Time 1, 2018 as Time 2) of a 45-year multicohort longitudinal study. Participants (n = 557) were identified from a specialty hospital in the Southeastern United States and two Midwestern hospitals and were initially enrolled in 1973-1974, 1984-1985, 1993-1994, or 2003-2004. PMD symptomology was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and was defined by PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10. Social isolation was represented by two latent dimensions: social disconnectedness, objective component measured by activities, and perceived isolation, based on subjective appraisals. Structural equation modeling assessed the relationship among social disconnectedness and perceived isolation measured at Time 1 and PMD measured at Times 1 and 2.

RESULTS

Both social disconnectedness and perceived isolation, measured at Time 1, were significantly related with PMD measured at Time 1 (rSD_Time 1 and PMD_Time 1 = .49, p < .001; rPI_Time 1 and PMD_Time 1 = .66, p < .001) and Time 2 (rSD_Time 1 and PMD_Time 2 = .37, p < .001; rPI_Time 1 and PMD_Time 2 = .54, p < .001), indicating participants with greater perceived isolation and social disconnectedness were more likely to have greater likelihood of PMD, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Perceived isolation was more strongly related to PMD compared with social disconnectedness.

CONCLUSION

Social isolation was associated with both current and future depression symptoms. People with more years post-SCI were less likely to have PMD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).