Loneliness and Its Mediating Relationship With Depression, Social Support, and Quality of Life Among Long‐Term Care Facility Residents

AIM: To examine the potential mediating role of social support and depression between loneliness and quality of life among long-term care facility residents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A convenience sample of 121 long-term care facility residents was recruited between June 2024 and March 2025. Validated instruments assessed loneliness, social support, depression, and quality of life. Multivariable regression and mediation analyses explored relationships and mediation effects among these variables. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 80.6 years. Loneliness was reported by 80.2% of residents, poor social support by 82.6%, depressive symptoms by 33.1%, and reduced quality of life by 52.1%. Multivariable analysis identified loneliness and depression as significant predictors of diminished quality of life. Mediation analysis revealed that depression partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and quality of life, while social support did not. CONCLUSION: Loneliness and depression significantly influence quality of life in long-term care facility residents, with depression as a partial mediator. Targeted interventions addressing both loneliness and depression are essential to enhance residents' well-being. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Nursing practice must prioritise interventions for loneliness and depression to improve quality of life in long-term care facilities, with a particular focus on managing depressive symptoms. IMPACT: This work informs nursing practice and policy to enhance well-being in long-term care facilities by highlighting the critical role of loneliness and depression. Nursing interventions should prioritise targeted mental health support and personalised care plans to address these issues effectively. Further research is needed to clarify the contextual role of social support in this population to improve intervention effectiveness. REPORTING METHOD: The authors have followed the STROBE checklist for reporting methods. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution outside of the participation in the actual study for purposes of data collection.