The Asymmetric Effect of Social Connection and the Cumulative Damage of Comorbidities on Physical and Mental Health of Older Virginians

Authors

• Newton Ochoki, Rutgers University - Newark
• Lynn Wiles, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion UniversityFollow
• Peijia Zha, Rutgers University - Newark
• Vince Falco, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion UniversityFollow
• Carielle Joy Rio, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Jonathan Romero, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
• Leorey N. Saligan, The State University of New Jersey

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

DOI

10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103614

Publication Title

Preventive Medicine Reports

Volume

70

Pages

103614 (1-7)

Abstract

Objectives

This study explored relationships of social connection with physical and mental health in older adults, specifically examining the effects of comorbidities on these relationships and the influence of sociodemographic variables on the strength of these associations.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled 174 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older residing in Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA. Data were collected from April to August 2025. Hierarchical linear regression analyses examined the associations of social connection with physical and mental health. Moderated mediation analysis examined if comorbidities mediated these relationships and whether sociodemographic factors moderate the strengths of these associations.

Results

In hierarchical linear regression models, comorbidity burden was significantly associated with poorer mental and physical health, explaining an additional 3% and 10% of the variance, respectively, beyond sociodemographic factors. Moderated mediation analysis revealed social connection had an indirect effect on mental health, where social connection was associated with higher comorbidities, which in turn was associated with poorer mental health, among Black relative to White participants (b = -0.80, 95% CI = -1.85, -0.02).

Conclusion

A conditional indirect pathway linked social connection to mental health through comorbidity burden among Black older adults, though the incremental contribution of social connection was minimal.

Rights

© 2026 The Authors

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) License.

Data Availability

Article states: "Data will be made available on request."

Original Publication Citation

Ochoki, N., Wiles, L., Zha, P. J., Falco, V., Rio, C. J., Romero, J., & Saligan, L. N. (2026). The asymmetric effect of social connection and the cumulative damage of comorbidities on physical and mental health of older Virginians. Preventive Medicine Reports, 70, Article 103614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2026.103614

Repository Citation

Ochoki, Newton; Wiles, Lynn; Zha, Peijia; Falco, Vince; Rio, Carielle Joy; Romero, Jonathan; and Saligan, Leorey N., "The Asymmetric Effect of Social Connection and the Cumulative Damage of Comorbidities on Physical and Mental Health of Older Virginians" (2026). Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications. 98.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/nursing_fac_pubs/98