Publication type
Journal Article
Authors
Publication date
December 1, 2026
Summary:
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) captures an individual's wellbeing and is influenced by both mental and physical health. There is growing recognition of the role of wider health determinants, such as loneliness, which is strongly linked to both health and HRQoL and is now considered a critical public health priority. This study examines loneliness as mediator between disability and HRQoL. Data were analysed from wave 14 (2022-2024) of the Understanding Society UK Household Longitudinal Study with baseline predictions from waves 9, 12 and 13 to account for COVID-19 effects. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA scale, HRQoL by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey, and disability using single item questions on long-standing physical and mental illness, impairment, or disability. Analysis was based on complete case responses. Disability was associated to reduced physical HRQoL of −4.379 [95%CI:-4.632,-4.125], with 1.8% [95%CI: 0.9-2.7%] of this effect mediated by loneliness. The reduction on mental HRQoL was −2.661 [95%CI:-2.927,-2.394], with 23.7% [95%CI: 20.1-27.2%] mediated by loneliness. Having a diagnosed mental health condition was associated to poorer mental HRQoL of −4.128 [95%CI:-4.451,-3.804], of which 17.3% [95%CI:14.6-20.0%] was mediated by loneliness. Key findings remain consistent regardless of when baseline was measured. Disability has a greater effect on physical than mental HRQoL. Loneliness accounts for a larger share of the impact of disability on mental HRQoL than on physical HRQoL. Findings highlight the importance of addressing loneliness, especially among those with mental health conditions, to improve overall wellbeing. This requires research into effective interventions and greater recognition of loneliness as a key driver for HRQoL.
Published in
Social Science & Medicine
Volume
Volume: 411:119931
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119931
ISSN
02779536
Subjects
Notes
© 2026 The Authors.
Open Access
Under a Creative Commons license
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