Pain, depression, and fatigue: loneliness as a longitudinal risk factor.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Pain, depression, and fatigue function as a symptom cluster and thus may share common risk factors. Interpersonal relationships clearly influence health, suggesting that loneliness may promote the development of the pain, depression, and fatigue symptom cluster. We hypothesized that loneliness would be related to concurrent symptom cluster levels and increases in symptom cluster levels over time.

Method

We utilized two observational studies with distinct longitudinal samples. Study 1 was a sample of cancer survivors and benign controls (N = 115) assessed annually for 2 years. Study 2 was a sample of older adults caring for a spouse with dementia (caregivers) and non-caregiver controls (N = 229) assessed annually for 4 years. Participants completed annual measures a

SUBMITTER: Jaremka LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3992976 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature