Shadows of loneliness: Shaping the link between self-rated health and depressive symptoms trajectories in later life.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how self-rated health (SRH) and depressive symptoms co-evolve over time among older adults, and whether loneliness modifies the relationship between baseline and trajectory of SRH in relation to the initial level and trend of depressive symptoms.

METHODS: Using the 2012-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study in the United States (7991 adults aged 65 years and older), we applied latent growth curve modeling and multi-group analyses to estimate intercepts and slopes for both SRH and depressive symptoms and to evaluate moderation by loneliness.

RESULTS: SRH declined while depressive symptoms increased over time. Lower SRH at the intercept related to higher depressive symptoms at the intercept (b = -0.469, p < .001). A sharper decline in SRH was linked to more severe depressive symptoms (b = -0.681, p < .001). Loneliness intensified the negative association between self rated health and depressive symptoms at the intercept and slope.

CONCLUSIONS: Disentangling intercept and slope clarifies the longitudinal relationship between depression and SRH. Interventions targeting loneliness may help buffer against worsening health and mental health trajectories.