The dynamic relationship between hearing loss, quality of life, socioeconomic position and depression and the impact of hearing aids: answers from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)
The dynamic relationship between hearing loss, quality of life, socioeconomic position and depression and the impact of hearing aids: answers from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)
Purpose: the adverse impact of hearing loss (HL) extends beyond auditory impairment and may affect the individuals' psychosocial wellbeing. We aimed to examine whether there exists a causal psychosocial pathway between HL and depression in later life, via socioeconomic factors and quality of life, and whether hearing aids usage alleviates depressive symptoms over time.
Methods: we examined the longitudinal relationship between HL and depressive symptoms (CES-D) applying dynamic cross-lagged mediation path models. We used the full dataset of participants aged 50-89 years (74,908 person-years), from all eight Waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Their quality of life (CASP-19) and their wealth were examined as the mediator and moderator of this relationship, respectively. Subgroup analyses investigated differences among those with hearing aids within different models of subjectively and objectively identified HL. All models were adjusted for age, sex, retirement status and social engagement.
Results: socioeconomic position (SEP) influenced the strength of the relationship between HL and depression, which was stronger in the lowest versus the highest wealth quintiles. The use of hearing aids was beneficial for alleviating depressive symptoms. Those in the lowest wealth quintiles experienced a lower risk for depression after the use of hearing aids compared to those in the highest wealth quintiles.
Conclusions: HL poses a substantial risk for depressive symptoms in older adults, especially those who experience socioeconomic inequalities. The early detection of HL and provision of hearing aids may not only promote better-hearing health but could also enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of older adults, particularly those in a lower SEP.
Ageing, Depression, Hearing aids, Hearing loss, Psychosocial wellbeing, Social epidemiology
353–362
Tsimpida, Dialechti
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Kontopantelis, Evangelos
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Ashcroft, Darren M
eb637aa0-626e-492a-8d61-ee65784bbe6a
Panagioti, Maria
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12 August 2021
Tsimpida, Dialechti
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Kontopantelis, Evangelos
0a21ca6f-4516-45f8-80fc-b10dd7db6780
Ashcroft, Darren M
eb637aa0-626e-492a-8d61-ee65784bbe6a
Panagioti, Maria
e6203164-fc28-408c-8219-66b21540f044
Tsimpida, Dialechti, Kontopantelis, Evangelos, Ashcroft, Darren M and Panagioti, Maria
(2021)
The dynamic relationship between hearing loss, quality of life, socioeconomic position and depression and the impact of hearing aids: answers from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57, .
(doi:10.1007/s00127-021-02155-0).
Abstract
Purpose: the adverse impact of hearing loss (HL) extends beyond auditory impairment and may affect the individuals' psychosocial wellbeing. We aimed to examine whether there exists a causal psychosocial pathway between HL and depression in later life, via socioeconomic factors and quality of life, and whether hearing aids usage alleviates depressive symptoms over time.
Methods: we examined the longitudinal relationship between HL and depressive symptoms (CES-D) applying dynamic cross-lagged mediation path models. We used the full dataset of participants aged 50-89 years (74,908 person-years), from all eight Waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Their quality of life (CASP-19) and their wealth were examined as the mediator and moderator of this relationship, respectively. Subgroup analyses investigated differences among those with hearing aids within different models of subjectively and objectively identified HL. All models were adjusted for age, sex, retirement status and social engagement.
Results: socioeconomic position (SEP) influenced the strength of the relationship between HL and depression, which was stronger in the lowest versus the highest wealth quintiles. The use of hearing aids was beneficial for alleviating depressive symptoms. Those in the lowest wealth quintiles experienced a lower risk for depression after the use of hearing aids compared to those in the highest wealth quintiles.
Conclusions: HL poses a substantial risk for depressive symptoms in older adults, especially those who experience socioeconomic inequalities. The early detection of HL and provision of hearing aids may not only promote better-hearing health but could also enhance the psychosocial wellbeing of older adults, particularly those in a lower SEP.
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s00127-021-02155-0
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 30 July 2021
Published date: 12 August 2021
Additional Information:
Funding Information: This research was supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (Personal Award Reference to DT: NIHR-INF-0551). The NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Keywords:
Ageing, Depression, Hearing aids, Hearing loss, Psychosocial wellbeing, Social epidemiology
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 482441
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/482441
ISSN: 0933-7954
PURE UUID: 4318b27c-65a2-4fe7-8985-d88c1f3add9b
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Date deposited: 04 Oct 2023 16:35
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:15
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Contributors
Author:
Dialechti Tsimpida
Author:
Evangelos Kontopantelis
Author:
Darren M Ashcroft
Author:
Maria Panagioti
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