Short-term and Long-term Associations between Loneliness and Cognitive Functioning across the Adult Life Span
Restricted (Penn State Only)
- Author:
- Kang, Jee Eun
- Graduate Program:
- Human Development and Family Studies
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- May 30, 2023
- Committee Members:
- David Almeida, Major Field Member
Lynn Martire, Major Field Member
Marty Sliwinski, Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Jennifer Graham-Engeland, Outside Unit & Field Member
Heidemarie Laurent, Professor in Charge/Director of Graduate Studies - Keywords:
- Loneliness
cognition
Ecological momentary assessment
Cognitive aging
Chronic loneliness
State loneliness - Abstract:
- Given the growing aging population and the impact of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), it is vital to prioritize efforts in preserving cognitive function across adulthood and delaying disease onset and progression. Loneliness has emerged as a significant modifiable risk factor in this regard. While previous research has shown a negative association between loneliness and cognition, there is limited understanding regarding the timing and duration of how loneliness influences cognitive functioning. Therefore, the overarching goal of this dissertation is to enhance our understanding of the temporal dynamics of the relationship between loneliness and cognitive functioning across adulthood, by focusing on different time scales of loneliness and employing ambulatory measures of cognitive functioning. This dissertation included two empirical studies. Study 1 focused on chronic loneliness and its longitudinal impact on cognition. The results demonstrated that chronic loneliness was associated with unfavorable cognitive changes in young and middle-aged adults. These findings emphasize the significance of considering loneliness as a critical factor in understanding brain health and accelerated cognitive aging, extending beyond older individuals to include those in middle age. Study 2 investigated the short-term dynamics between momentary states of loneliness and cognitive performance across various timescales. The results revealed a complex reciprocal relationship between loneliness and cognitive functioning, depending on whether the timescale was day-to-day or moment-to-moment. This study provided compelling evidence supporting both concurrent and enduring prospective effects of state loneliness, indicating that higher iv average levels of state loneliness on a given day predicted poorer cognitive performances on the same day and the following day. Intriguingly, within the span of a single day, an opposite association emerged, wherein the level of cognitive performance at each moment predicted the subsequent level of experienced loneliness. Overall, this dissertation shed light on the intricate interplay between loneliness and cognition within different temporal contexts, unraveling new insights into the dynamic nature of their relationship. This dissertation highlights the importance of addressing both short-term and long-term accumulations of loneliness in order to mitigate the negative effects on cognitive functioning. This knowledge can guide the design and examination of interventions that target specific timeframes or durations of loneliness to promote better cognitive health outcomes.