@article{ref1,
title="Self-disgust, loneliness and mental health outcomes in older adults: an eye-tracking study",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2020",
author="Ypsilanti, Antonia and Robson, Anna and Lazuras, Lambros and Powell, Philip A. and Overton, Paul G.",
volume="266",
number="",
pages="646-654",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Self-disgust has been associated with loneliness and mental health difficulties in clinical and non-clinical populations, but there is limited research on the role of self-disgust in loneliness and mental health outcomes in older adults. <br><br>METHODS: In Study 1 (N = 102; M age = 68.4 years, SD = 10.9, 68% females) we used a cross-sectional survey to explore the association between loneliness, self-disgust and mental health outcomes. In Study 2 (N = 80; M age = 68.8 years, SD = 11.4, 57% females) we used eye-tracking to investigate attentional vigilance, maintenance and avoidance in individuals with high (vs. low) self-disgust. <br><br>RESULTS: In study 1 we found that self-disgust mediated the associations of loneliness with anxiety and depressive symptoms, and in study 2 it was demonstrated that older adults with high (vs. low) self-disgust displayed attentional avoidance to their own faces, compared to the faces of unknown others, a process that may perpetuate loneliness. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design used in Study 1 limits our potential to make causal inferences. Additionally, both studies included a wide age range of older adults. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are novel and highlight the importance of self-disgust experiences in the context of loneliness and mental health outcomes in older adults. Implications for practice and interventions against loneliness in this age group are discussed.<br><br>Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.166",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.166"
}