The Relationship between Social Isolation and Depression in the Elderly: The Mediating Role of Activities of daily living

With the growing older adult population, increasing attention has been directed toward the determinants of their mental health. Depression is one of the most prevalent psychological disorders in later life, and identifying the factors associated with its development is essential for prevention, early detection, and the promotion of mental health among older adults. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the mediating role of activities of daily living in the relationship between social isolation and depression among older adults. This correlational study employed path analysis. The study population consisted of older adults residing in nursing homes in Ilam city in 2025. A total of 180 participants (72 men and 108 women, aged 65 to 90 years) were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data collection instruments included the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Lubben Social Network Scale, and the Mahoney and Barthel Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and path analysis through SPSS and AMOS version 27. The findings indicated that social isolation was associated with lower levels of daily functioning and higher levels of depression. Activities of daily living showed a significant negative relationship with depression. Furthermore, the results of the path analysis indicated that the indirect association between social isolation and depression through activities of daily living was also significant (β = 0.21, p < .05). These results suggest that enhancing older adults ability to perform activities of daily living may alleviate the adverse effects of social isolation on depression and contribute to the maintenance of their mental health.