Purpose: In this study, the authors’ aims were to (a) determine
the longitudinal relationships between baseline hearing
status and 4-year follow-up depression and loneliness in an
older population and (b) investigate possible differences across
subgroups in these relationships.
Method: The authors used data from 2 waves of the
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (4-year follow-up,
baseline ages 63–93 years). Sample sizes were 996 (self-report
analyses) and 830 (speech-in-noise test analyses). The authors
used multiple linear regression analyses to assess the
associations between baseline hearing status and 4-year
follow-up of depression, social loneliness, and emotional
loneliness. Hearing was measured by self-report and by a
speech-in-noise test. Age, gender, hearing aid use, baseline
depression or loneliness, and relevant confounders and effect
modifiers were incorporated.
Results: Both hearing measures showed significant
associations with loneliness ( p < .05), but these effects
were confined to specific subgroups of older persons. For
instance, adverse effects were confined to nonusers of
hearing aids (self-report, social loneliness model) and men
(self-report and speech-in-noise test, emotional-loneliness
model). No significant effects appeared for depression.
Conclusion: Significant adverse effects of poor hearing on
loneliness were found for specific subgroups of older persons.
In future research, investigators should further examine the
subgroup effects observed. Eventually, this may contribute
to the development of tailored prevention programs.
Key Words: hearing loss, longitudinal, speech-in-noise,
psychosocial health, older persons