Hearing difficulties and memory problems: the mediating role of physical health and psychosocial wellbeing

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics for total sample and those with self-reported normal hearing and self-reported hearing difficulties.

	Total sample (N = 479)	Normal Hearing (n = 237)	Hearing Difficulty (n = 241)	p-value
^bAge (SD)	40.29 (17.19)	34.51 (14.88)	46.03 (17.40)	<0.001
Gender				0.054
Female	323 (67.3)	144 (60.8)	178 (73.9)
Male	153 (31.9)	91 (38.4)	61 (25.3)
Other	4 (0.8)	2 (0.9)	2 (0.8)
Ethnicity				0.926
White British/ Other White	433 (90.2)	214 (90.3)	217 (90.0)
Other than white	47 (9.8)	23 (9.7)	24 (10.0)
Occupation level				0.055
Managerial position	292 (60.8)	132 (55.7)	152 (63.1)
Non-managerial position	188 (39.2)	105 (44.3)	89 (36.9)
Level of education				0.290
Degree or higher	284 (59.2)	146 (61.6)	137 (43.2)
No degree	196 (40.8)	91 (38.4)	104 (56.8)
Hearing aid user (n = 225)	102 (46.8)	0 (0.00)	102 (50.0)	–
Hours per day wearing hearing aids (n = 102)
0 hours	4 (3.9)	0 (0.0)	4 (3.9)
1–4 hours	7 (6.9)	0 (0.0)	7 (6.9)
4–8 hours	16 (15.7)	0 (0.0)	16 (15.7)
>8 hours	75 (73.5)	0 (0.0)	75 (73.5)
Memory problems	146 (30.4)	48 (20.3)	98 (40.7)	<0.001
Cardiovascular disease risk	91 (19.0)	27 (11.4)	64 (26.6)	<0.001
Smoked (ever)	222 (46.3)	108 (45.6)	114 (47.3)	0.704
Smoke (currently)	52 (10.8)	19 (8.0)	33 (13.7)	0.059
^bPhysical Activity (0-21)^a	9.81 (4.41)	10.38 (4.21)	9.36 (4.52)	0.026
^bMVPA (0–14)^a	4.62 (3.53)	4.89 (3.46)	4.41 (3.59)	0.193
^bWalking (0–7)^a	5.19 (2.15)	5.49 (2.10)	4.95 (2.17)	0.015
^bLoneliness (UCLAR)	42.21 (12.17)	39.35 (10.77)	44.99 (12.56)	<0.001
^bDepression total score	2.48 (2.49)	2.32 (2.00)	2.66 (2.01)	0.062
^bSocial isolation^c	17.94 (5.99)	19.19 (5.69)	16.66 (6.04)	<0.001

Note. Where sample size is not specified, complete data for the variable were available. Values represent frequencies (and percentages).

^bMean (and SD).

^cLower scores indicative of more social isolation.

MVPA: Moderate or Vigorous Physical Activity. ^a(n = 370).

Figure 1. Figures represent path models of association for the psychosocial model of association between hearing difficulties and subjective memory problems; (A) represents the direct path between hearing difficulties and memory problems, (B) with social isolation as a mediator, (C) with social isolation and loneliness as mediators. Values represent standardised estimates [β] of direct paths. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Figure 2. Figures represent path models of association for the physical health model of association between hearing difficulties and subjective memory problems; (A) days of total physical activity included as a mediator, (B) days of moderate and vigorous physical activity included as a mediator, (C) days walking included as a mediator, (D) days walking and presence of cardiovascular risk factors included as mediators. Values represent standardised estimates [β] of direct paths. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, MVG, upon reasonable request.