Association between social isolation and depression, and sex differences in older adults: A systematic review and...

Depression is the most common mental health problems worldwide. Although several studies have explored the relationship between social isolation and depression, the specific association and gender differences are still inconsistent.

To systematically evaluate the association between social isolation and depression, and sex differences in older adults.

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases from inception to January 21, 2025. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0.

This meta-analysis included a total of 11 studies, involving 103,408 older people from 7 different countries, which showed a significantly increased risk of depression in older adults who experienced social isolation (OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.21-1.77). Sex differences analysis revealed that females (OR 1.59, 95 % CI 1.08-2.33) were at greater risk of depression compared to males (OR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.75-1.27). Subgroup analyses showed that the risk of depression was significantly increased in older people with advanced age and low education levels, and was significantly increased in both developed and developing countries, especially Europe and Asia. Cross-sectional and cohort studies also showed strong associations.

Social isolation significantly increases the risk of depression among older adults, with consistent findings across age, education level, region, and level of economic development. Analysis of gender differences suggests that older women are particularly affected. Strengthening the identification of social isolation in older people is essential to prevent depression in older people and promote successful aging.