April’s article of the month: the impact of physical multimorbidity on common mental disorders and the role of loneliness and social support

This research analyses the relationship between physical multimorbidity, that is, the presence of two or more diseases or physical conditions, and the development of certain mental disorders, such as major depression or anxiety disorders. It is a longitudinal study carried out using data from the “Edad con Salud” cohort, with a sample of 1,380 adults from the provinces of Barcelona and Madrid interviewed between 2019 and 2024.

The results showed that physical multimorbidity is longitudinally associated with a higher risk of presenting certain common mental disorders after three years. Thus, people with certain medical conditions are more likely to develop or maintain symptoms related to depression and anxiety.

The study also highlights the important role of loneliness and social support in this relationship. Specifically, the results indicated that loneliness and social support partially mediate the association between physical multimorbidity and mental disorders, and that loneliness plays a particularly important role, as it has a stronger mediating effect than social support.

In addition, the research also shows that the impact of loneliness on mental health is more intense among people with low social support. This finding suggests that the availability of support networks may modify the way loneliness affects the risk of experiencing certain mental disorders, especially among people with physical health problems.

The authors also identify other factors associated with a higher risk of common mental disorders, such as being a woman, being younger, and having previously experienced mental disorders. These findings reinforce the need to develop prevention and intervention strategies adapted to the most vulnerable groups.

Researchers from several institutions took part in this study, including Dr. Beatriz Olaya, lecturer in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the UAB, together with professionals from the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute, CIBERSAM, the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Complutense University of Madrid, and other research centers.

Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms linking physical health and mental health and underlines the importance of integrating the assessment of loneliness and social support into the care of people with physical multimorbidity. The results suggest that promoting support networks may be a key strategy for preventing mental disorders and improving the well-being of people with certain physical conditions.