TABLE 6.

Adjusted mediation models of the relationship between loneliness as predictor and physical health as dependent variables via cortisol indexes (CAR, DCS, and bedtime).

Mediating variable: CAR (1 outlier)
	Effect	SE	t	p	LLCI	ULCI
Loneliness to CAR	–0.098	0.107	–0.915	0.364	–0.312	0.116
CAR to physical health	0.163	0.143	1.138	0.260	–0.123	0.448
Indirect effect	–0.016	0.025	–	–	–0.082	0.016
Total effect	–0.096	0.117	–0.826	0.412	–0.330	0.137
Direct effect	–0.080	0.117	–0.687	0.495	–0.315	0.154
Mediating variable: DCS
	Effect	SE	t	p	LLCI	ULCI
Loneliness to DCS	–0.133	0.126	–1.058	0.294	–0.383	0.118
DCS to physical health	0.011	0.110	0.097	0.923	–0.208	0.229
Indirect effect	–0.001	0.018	–	–	–0.038	0.038
Total effect	–0.136	0.115	–1.182	0.241	–0.366	0.094
Direct effect	–0.135	0.117	–1.152	0.253	–0.368	0.099
Mediating variable: bedtime levels
	Effect	SE	t	p	LLCI	ULCI
Loneliness to bedtime	0.065	0.124	0.523	0.602	–0.182	0.312
Bedtime to physical health	0.091	0.111	0.823	0.414	–0.130	0.313
Indirect effect	0.006	0.018	–	–	–0.023	0.050
Total effect	–0.126	0.115	–1.098	0.276	–0.355	0.103
Direct effect	–0.132	0.115	–1.145	0.256	–0.362	0.098

Note. CAR, cortisol awakening response; DCS, diurnal cortisol slope.