Examining the relationship between loneliness, depression, and life satisfaction among Canadian older adults

Project Summary

Canadian older adults experience both symptoms of depression and feelings of loneliness. A positive association between these problems has been established through previous research. An in-depth understanding of how loneliness and depression are connected among Canadian older adults, how these problems evolve over time, and their impact on life satisfaction, has not been explored. The proposed research will examine how experiencing depression or loneliness at an earlier timepoint predicts levels of depressive symptoms or loneliness when assessed within the same individuals at a later timepoint. This research will also explore how loneliness and depression influence ratings of life satisfaction. Few studies have investigated how these problems are connected over time in a representative Canadian sample of adults. The results of this research will improve our understanding of the intersection of mental health problems and loneliness.