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Background <p>Physical activity (PA) has been associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders; however, it remains unclear whether a similar association exists for individuals experiencing social isolation or loneliness.</p> Methods <p>This study analyzed two cohorts, including the questionnaire-based PA cohort and the accelerometer-based PA cohort. Social isolation and loneliness were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. PA was assessed by questionnaire and accelerometer and was categorized into light-intensity, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA, VPA) and total PA. The questionnaire-based cohort included 12,072 lonely participants and 26,037 socially isolated participants at baseline, all without prior psychiatric disorders. The accelerometer-based cohort included 2,462 lonely and 5,516 socially isolated participants. Psychiatric disorders were identified from hospital inpatient records, primary care data, self-reported medical conditions, and death registers. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to assess the associations.</p> Results <p>In the questionnaire-based cohort, 2,609 (21.6%) of lonely individuals and 4,761 (18.3%) of socially isolated individuals developed psychiatric disorders during a median follow-up of 13 years. After full adjustment, higher levels of VPA were associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders in both lonely participants (HR: 0.856; 95% CI: 0.791, 0.926) and in socially isolated participants (HR: 0.916; 95% CI: 0.863, 0.972). Higher VPA levels were also associated with a lower risk of depression in both groups and anxiety in lonely participants alone. In the accelerometer-based cohort, 241 (10.8%) lonely individuals and 472 (8.5%) socially isolated individuals developed a psychiatric disorder during 7.9 years of follow-up. After full adjustment, higher VPA levels were associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders in lonely participants(HR: 0.704; 95% CI: 0.535, 0.927) and socially isolated participants (HR: 0.749; 95% CI: 0.616, 0.910). These associations are robust in a series of subgroups and sensitivity analyses.</p> Conclusion <p>This study suggests that higher levels of VPA are associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders among individuals experiencing loneliness or social isolation. This evidence supports the potential of VPA as a viable intervention to alleviate the psychiatric impacts of social isolation and loneliness.</p>

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Association between questionnaire-based and accelerometer-based physical activity and the incidence of psychiatric disorders in people with loneliness or social isolation: findings from the UK Biobank

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月17日

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  • Beining Jin,
  • Xingyuan Zhang,
  • Tiange Yan,
  • Ming Yao,
  • Jingrui Fei,
  • Yinshuang Zheng,
  • Hailong Yang,
  • Hongliang Li

摘要

Background

Physical activity (PA) has been associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders; however, it remains unclear whether a similar association exists for individuals experiencing social isolation or loneliness.

Methods

This study analyzed two cohorts, including the questionnaire-based PA cohort and the accelerometer-based PA cohort. Social isolation and loneliness were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. PA was assessed by questionnaire and accelerometer and was categorized into light-intensity, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA, VPA) and total PA. The questionnaire-based cohort included 12,072 lonely participants and 26,037 socially isolated participants at baseline, all without prior psychiatric disorders. The accelerometer-based cohort included 2,462 lonely and 5,516 socially isolated participants. Psychiatric disorders were identified from hospital inpatient records, primary care data, self-reported medical conditions, and death registers. Cox proportional hazard models were employed to assess the associations.

Results

In the questionnaire-based cohort, 2,609 (21.6%) of lonely individuals and 4,761 (18.3%) of socially isolated individuals developed psychiatric disorders during a median follow-up of 13 years. After full adjustment, higher levels of VPA were associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders in both lonely participants (HR: 0.856; 95% CI: 0.791, 0.926) and in socially isolated participants (HR: 0.916; 95% CI: 0.863, 0.972). Higher VPA levels were also associated with a lower risk of depression in both groups and anxiety in lonely participants alone. In the accelerometer-based cohort, 241 (10.8%) lonely individuals and 472 (8.5%) socially isolated individuals developed a psychiatric disorder during 7.9 years of follow-up. After full adjustment, higher VPA levels were associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders in lonely participants(HR: 0.704; 95% CI: 0.535, 0.927) and socially isolated participants (HR: 0.749; 95% CI: 0.616, 0.910). These associations are robust in a series of subgroups and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

This study suggests that higher levels of VPA are associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders among individuals experiencing loneliness or social isolation. This evidence supports the potential of VPA as a viable intervention to alleviate the psychiatric impacts of social isolation and loneliness.