Citation

Chen JI, Hooker ER, Niederhausen M, E Marsh H, Saha S, Dobscha SK, Teo AR. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2020; 55(5): 589-597.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-019-01785-9

PMID

31691842

PMCID

PMC7304483

Abstract

PURPOSE: Our study explored whether aspects of veterans' social connectedness (social support, interpersonal conflict, loneliness, social norms, number of confidants) are associated with change in their depression symptoms and health services utilization over 1 year.
METHODS: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study of 262 military veterans who obtained primary care and other services at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility and screened positive for depression. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 12-month follow-up. We measured social connectedness variables using the NIH Toolbox Adult Social Relationship Scales. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depression symptoms and suicidal ideation and administrative medical record data for health services utilization. We calculated change scores to model outcomes over time using multivariable regressions.
RESULTS: We found that higher levels of baseline loneliness were associated with decreased depression severity over 1 year (B = - 1.55, 95% CI [- 2.53, - .56], p < .01). We found a similar association for suicidal ideation. In contrast, higher baseline number of confidants was associated with increased depression (B = .55, 95% CI [.18,.92], p < .01). Higher levels of emotional support were associated with decreased mental health visits (B = - 3.88, 95% CI [- 6.80, - .96], p < .01). No significant associations were found between social connectedness variables and primary care visits.
CONCLUSIONS: Emotional support may play an important role in reducing mental health treatment utilization among VHA-using veterans. Additional investigation as to how and why loneliness and number of confidants might be paradoxically associated with depression symptoms remains necessary.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; United States; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide; Prospective Studies; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Longitudinal Studies; Health services; Psychometrics; Social support; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Major depression; Depressive Disorder