Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41275103›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Associations of sarcopenia with depression and suicidal ideation: the sex-specific mediating role of loneliness.

Youjuan Zhang, Shuai Zhou, Yang Chao, Xinxin Cai, Min Yang, Boda Zhou, Xue Bai

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Youjuan Zhang *Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Shuai Zhou *Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Yang ChaoResearch Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Xinxin CaiResearch Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Min YangDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Boda ZhouDepartment of Cardiology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Xue BaiResearch Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. xue.bai@polyu.edu.hk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe global aging population amplifies sarcopenia’s burden, a syndrome linked to physical decline and comorbid mental health risks. Despite growing understanding of the associations between sarcopenia, depression, and suicidal ideation, the mediating role of loneliness and sex-specific patterns remains underexplored. This study investigates whether loneliness mediates the sarcopenia–negative mood relationship and examines sex differences in these pathways among Hong Kong older adults.

methodsWe analyzed data from 2126 adults aged ≥ 60 (69 ± 6.5 years, 57% women) in the 2024–2025 Panel study of Active Ageing and Society (PAAS). Sarcopenia was assessed using the SARC-F questionnaire (score > 4). Negative mood included depressive symptoms (CES-D-8 scale) and past-week suicidal ideation (binary item). Loneliness was measured via a 3-item UCLA-based scale (score 3–9). Linear regression (depression) and probit models (suicidal ideation) tested associations, adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. Entropy balancing and propensity score matching were used to address selection bias. KHB decomposition analysis quantified the total, direct and indirect effects of the loneliness mediation, stratified by sex.

resultsSarcopenia prevalence was 9.6%, disproportionately affecting women, socioeconomically disadvantaged adults, and patients with comorbidities. Adjusted models revealed sarcopenia was positively associated with depressive symptoms (B = 3.41, SE = 0.28) and a 17.6% greater probability of suicidal ideation (B = 0.83, SE = 0.11). Effects were stronger in women (depression: B = 3.48 vs. 3.11 in men). Loneliness mediated 23.73% of the sarcopenia–suicidal ideation association and 20.54% of the sarcopenia–depression association. Sex-dimorphic pathways emerged: loneliness mediated more of sarcopenia’s effect on suicidal ideation in men (27.98%) than women (22.48%), despite women’s stronger direct effects.

conclusionLoneliness significantly explains the sarcopenia–mental health relationship, with men exhibiting stronger indirect pathways via loneliness. This highlights the need for integrated interventions targeting sarcopenia (e.g., resistance training) and loneliness (e.g., group-based social activities), tailored to sex-specific mechanisms. Scaling such approaches is urgent for the aging society, with highly prevalent sarcopenia and mental health problems among older adults.

Indexed as

DepressionLonelinessSarcopeniaSuicidal IdeationAgedFemaleHong KongHumansMaleMiddle AgedSex FactorsDepressionLonelinessMediationOlder adultsPanel study of active ageing and societySarcopeniaSex-specific roleSuicidal ideation

Identifiers

PMID41275103
PMCPMC12866460

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.