Decoding apathy in the middle-aged and older adults
The indirect effect of loneliness and the moderating effect of cognitive function on resilience
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22235083 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hung-Kai Pai (Tri-Service General Hospital), Rwei-Ling Yu (0000-0001-5836-1237, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1057/s41599-025-06283-9 |
| OpenAlex | W4416894479 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 60 |
Apathy, a multi-dimensional construct characterized by diminished motivation and emotional indifference, is a prevalent yet underexplored condition in middle-aged and older adults. This multifaceted condition significantly impacts daily activities and overall well-being. While resilience and cognitive abilities have been proposed as potential protective factors against apathy, their interplay with the condition remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the indirect effect of resilience on multi-dimensional apathy via loneliness and to assess further whether this indirect effect is moderated by cognitive function. A cohort of 218 community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older was recruited. Participants provided demographic information and completed validated questionnaires to assess resilience, loneliness, and multi-dimensional apathy, along with performance-based cognitive tests. The moderated mediation model was analyzed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Our findings revealed that loneliness accounted for a statistically significant indirect effect in the association between resilience and multi-dimensional apathy, specifically for the domains of cognitive and social motivation ( B = −0.046, 95% CI [−0.08, −0.02]) and spontaneous behavioral activation ( B = −0.024, 95% CI [−0.04, −0.01]). Notably, cognitive function moderated the indirect association between resilience and multi-dimensional apathy via loneliness ( B = −0.070, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−0.11, −0.03]), indicating that the indirect influence of resilience on multi-faceted apathy diminished with declining cognitive function. By uncovering the intricate relationships between resilience, loneliness, multi-dimensional apathy, and cognitive function, our study offers groundbreaking insights into combating apathy in the aging population. The emphasis on enhancing resilience and cognitive capabilities presents a forward-thinking approach to mitigating the adverse effects of loneliness, heralding a new direction in fostering a resilient and cognitively engaged elderly community
Apathy · Cognition · Loneliness · Mediation · Moderated mediation · Psychological resilience · Aging and Gerontology Research · Health disparities and outcomes · Resilience and Mental Health
Cahost
Loneliness, Resilience, Mental Health, and Quality of Life in Old Age
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Facing up to the global challenges of ageing
Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems
Active Aging and Public Health
Regression-based statistical mediation and moderation analysis in clinical research
“Mini-mental state”
The effect of subjective age on loneliness in the old adults
Associations Between Loneliness and Cognitive Resilience to Neuropathology in Older Adults
The Detrimental Effects of Adolescents’ Chronic Loneliness on Motivation and Emotion Regulation in Social Situations
Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Seniors with Mild Cognitive Impairment in Taiwan
The Construct of Resilience
Toward a neurology of loneliness
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |