Influences of Loneliness, Life Purpose, and Aging Satisfaction on Depression in Older US Adults: Analysis of 12-Year Longitudinal Data

The objective of this study is to examine the separate effects of loneliness, life purpose, and aging satisfaction on depression in older adults, using 12 years of longitudinal data. The research used data from the Health and Retirement Study (2008–2020) for adults 60 years or older, with a sample of 7836 individuals. The data was analyzed using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model to evaluate the impact of the independent variables on depression. The results showed that factors such as sex, age, and subjective economic level were found to have a significant correlation with depression among the elderly. Additionally, loneliness was found to have a positive correlation with depression, while aging satisfaction and life purpose were found to have an inverse association with depression in older adults. This study suggests that having a positive outlook on life and aging is crucial in preventing depression in older adults.