Loneliness and the onset of new mental health problems in the general population.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Loneliness is associated with poor health including premature mortality. There are cross-sectional associations with depression, anxiety, psychosis, and other mental health outcomes. However, it is not known whether loneliness is causally linked with the new onset of mental health problems in the general population. Longitudinal studies are key to understanding this relationship. We synthesized evidence from longitudinal studies investigating the relationship between loneliness and new onset of mental health problems, in the general population.

Method

We systematically searched six electronic databases, unpublished sources, and hand-searched references, up to August 2021. We conducted a meta-analysis of eight independent cohorts and narrative synthesis of the remaini

SUBMITTER: Mann F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9636084 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature