Social factors may mediate the relationship between subjective age-related hearing loss and episodic memory

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether the relationship between subjective age-related hearing loss (SARHL) and episodic memory functioning is mediated by measures of social functioning.

Methods: Using data from 8,163 adults over 50 that participated in the Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (three waves, each two years apart), we used a multiple mediation model within a Structural Equation Modelling framework to explore potential social mediators of the relationship between SARHL and episodic memory functioning, controlling for demographic and health covariates.

Results: Neither the direct effect of self-reported hearing difficulties on memory functioning (β = -.03), nor the total effect (β = .01), were significant. A small inconsistent indirect effect of self-reported hearing difficulties on episodic memory via weekly social activity engagement (β = -.002) was found.

Conclusions: Self-reported hearing difficulties may exert an indirect effect on episodic memory via weekly social activity engagement. The findings may have implications for identification of individuals at risk of memory decline in later life.

Keywords:

• Age-related hearing loss
• cognitive decline
• cognitive impairment
• dementia
• episodic memory
• causal mechanism

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the funders for their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Financial support

This research was supported by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland in the form of a Leadership in Ageing Research Fellowship grant held by Joanna McHugh Power. David Loughrey was supported by the Global Brain Health Institute. Initial funding to establish the Global Brain Health Institute was provided by the Atlantic Philanthropies

Ethical standards

The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing was approved by the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee in Trinity College Dublin prior to starting. The study was conducted in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration, and its later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Notes

1 Mediation refers to the putative mechanism through which one variable can impact another, via a third variable. A partial mediation occurs if the third (“mediator”/M) variable accounts for only a proportion of the total effect of the independent variable (“X”) on the dependent variable (“Y”). Partial mediation can be contrasted with complete mediation, which occurs when M accounts for the full total effect of X on Y. Mediation effects, whether complete or partial, can be consistent or inconsistent. An inconsistent mediation effect occurs when the mediated effect has a different sign to the overall effect (MacKinnon, Krull, & Lockwood, 2000).