Loneliness, Anxiety Symptoms, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation in the All of Us Dataset

Does loneliness mediate the association between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation as well as depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation?In this cross-sectional study of 62 685 individuals, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and loneliness were positively associated with suicidal ideation. Loneliness mediated the association between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation as well as depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.This study suggests that anxiety and depressive symptoms on their own are associated with increases in suicidal ideation, yet these associations are partially mediated by loneliness; targeting and reducing loneliness may arrest the progression from depression and anxiety toward suicidal ideation.

Corresponding Author: Katherine Musacchio Schafer, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2525 West End Ave, Ste 1450, Nashville, TN 37203 (katherine.m.schafer@vumc.org).

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