Social relationships, loneliness and mental health

Abstract Background While social relationships have been shown to impact health, the impact of social relations on mental health remains understudied in rural populations. We aim to explore social relationships (loneliness, informal and formal support) of individuals and evaluate the association between social relationships and mental health conditions (depression, stress). Methods We conducted a longitudinal study on life events and mental health in rural areas. Here is the data from the first wave. We assessed loneliness, informal and formal support, anxiety, and stress characteristics. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and informal and formal social support was assessed using self-developed instruments. We assessed anxiety, depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire -9 (PHQ-9), and stress with the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Multiple linear regression models were used to test relationships between social relationships and depression and stress. Data analysis was performed from November to March 2024. Results The study included 493 individuals with a mean age of 50.9 (SD: 18.24) years (68.6% women and 31.4% men). Almost half of the population reported loneliness (n = 207, 48.0%), around a quarter a lack of formal social support (n = 110, 25%), and around 10% a lack of informal social support (n = 53, 12.3%). Multivariate analyses suggest that loneliness and lack of informal relationships are significantly positively associated with both depression and stress (p>.0001). Lack of formal relationships is not significantly associated with mental health conditions (p = 0.933 for depression, p = 0.753 for stress). Discussion Loneliness and informal social support are significantly associated with depression and stress. Supporting relationships and connections in communities may be a critical component to promote mental health and reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.